George Buzzetti writes:
“Chicago, you must set the agenda not Emmanuel and his destruction crew. You must take back control of Chicago and the School Board. There is nothing like a politician who gets the public mad as hell at them for change. In L.A. Monica Ratliff was elected with only $44,000 against more than a million and she never took a day off work and she drives a long way to her teaching job. If you have a good mayoral candidate the chances are good to get Emanuel out and to elect sense again even if it has been a long time. Now is the time for Chicago to set the agenda in Chicago as you have been the shining example for the rest of the country concerning education and fighting for your children and society.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Conventional wisdom is that Chicago politics is all about cronyism, favors, and longstanding connections. It would be nice to see someone from outside the political machine beat Emmanuel…but that seems like a really, really long shot. Best strategy for education activists would probably be to field a candidate experienced in Chicago politics who supports at least some of your positions, rather than an idealistic outsider.
It is also important to keep hounding Emmanuel in a way that embarrasses him and his biggest supporters and donors. Emmanuel seems to be the sort of politician who cares more about his own power than the people he was elected to serve. So attack his power base, rather than attempting to appeal to reason or his “conscience.” For example, if I were an education activist in Chicago, I’d find a list of Emmanuel’s top 20 donors and have groups of children protest outside their homes and businesses singing emotional songs (“We are the World” and etc.), to try to shame them in the media.
Monica Ratliff was helped by the fact that she ran in a very low-turnout election in a very small region. Kudos to her and her supporters, but that sort of outcome is going to be almost impossible to replicate in a higher-profile election.
LikeLike
how about Karen Lewis for Mayor:)
LikeLike
My instincts tell me that’s not a great idea. She’s needed right where she is. She will be a necessary ally of whoever does manage to throw Rahm out (I’m hoping). If we risk her on a mayoral run, we risk losing both the mayor’s office and the union.
LikeLike
We had a good candidate the last election – Del Valle – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/miguel-del-valle-chicago-_n_816494.html
Rahm Emanuel had the really big money and name recognition because he was associated with Obama. And I think that a lot of people didn’t vote.
Toni Preckwinkle might be a good candidate next time. http://www.suntimes.com/20159461-761/toni-preckwinkle-rips-emanuel-says-cps-closure-plan-weakens-our-public-schools.html
LikeLike
http://www.ctunet.com/blog/watch-this-9-year-old-teach-mayor-emanuel-a-lesson-video
Or if he were old enough!
LikeLike
Prior to Monica Ratliff being elected we also stopped Measure J which was L.A. County wide which is much bigger than Chicago by a long shot. Measure J was a 1/2 cent sales tax until 2069 worth $90 billion, $300 billion with interest, with only one paragraph of controlling language. The previous Measure R was for $40 billion and had 37 pages of language. We stopped this with less than 3 weeks and under $25,000. Do not say “Impossible” when it has been done in a larger setting. This took many different communities joining together such as Beverly Hills, where they want to endanger their high school students, Crenshaw, the Black Community, Boyle Heights, the Brown Comminity, the Bus Riders Union, the San Gabriel Valley, the No Tunneling the 710 extension to many others. We joined together and got a win. Chicago can do it if Emmanuel continues with his path of destruction. I think it is so much a part of his psychological DNA that he cannot stop himself and in the long run that could be good for Chicago as then he will destroy himself. War is a series of battles. Read the “Art of War.” They have.
LikeLike
Community often forgets success is one step beyond where you stop. The people can and will be effective provided they are relentless in the face of whatever the odds. Change comes through relentless focused effort and seldom in a large block. The paradigm shift is a process of incremental gains in most cases yet those gains are the basis of people power in action
LikeLike
Let’s get rid of Rahm and that deform board of education that rubber stamps his stupid decisions.
LikeLike
Just saw Karen Lewis on MSNBC with Chris Hedges. Whoo hoo!
LikeLike
Oops, I meant Chris Hayes. So excited I goofed!
LikeLike
Yeah, the powers that be wouldn’t let Hedges get anywhere near a mic these days.
LikeLike