Del Valle: ‘Poorest candidate with most to offer’
By Abdon M. Pallasch Political Reporterapallasch@suntimes.com January 5, 2011 6:34PM
1-4-11 Mayoral candidate Miguel Del Valle meets Wednesday with the Sun-Times Editorial Board. photo by Jean Lachat/Sun-Times
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Updated: April 30, 2011 4:45AM
Mayoral candidate Miguel del Valle announced Wednesday he will finish in last place -- when it comes to fundraising.
“I want to announce ... today: I will be the poorest candidate -- with the most to offer,” del Valle said at the Logan Square Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen and event space that helps food-service entrepreneurs get started.
Del Valle was discussing the elimination of red tape in city government that plagues small-business owners.
But as del Valle stood among the stainless steel ovens and mixing bowls, the conversation turned to whether he could compete with the $2.5 million Gery Chico has raised and the even-larger amounts Rahm Emanuel is expected to announce.
“I’ve raised $150,000 thus-far,” del Valle said. “People are not going to vote based on the millions of dollars raised by candidates ... who have made a personal fortune off of their connections with government and their prior positions with the federal government or the city government. I did not serve as the mayor’s fundraiser or the mayor’s chief of staff, and I did not take those positions in order to enrich myself personally.”
Del Valle criticized pundits for equating candidates’ purses with their viability.
“Let’s look at the hypocrisy that’s up there right now, even with the media, when the media says, ‘Oh the campaign is not viable’ when the media at the same time says ‘Oh, it’s terrible when big contributors with big interests end up unduly influencing the legislative agenda or public policy agendas.’ I will not have strings attached. What does it say when Gery Chico can make millions and millions of dollars off of clients who go to him because of his influence and inside politicking with city government?”
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