(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Among candidates vying to challenge incumbent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, it may seem that “everything old is new again.”
When alderman and mayoral hopeful Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) proposed creation of a commission to draw up a new Chicago city charter, rival Paul Vallas couldn’t help but call it a good idea.
The onetime city budget chief and schools boss says he’s proposed something similar before, and he’s not alone.
In fact, Vallas notes several mayoral hopefuls have proposed an updated city charter that limits the power of what he calls the “Imperial Mayor.” He credits former Inspector General Joe Ferguson for spearheading the latest incarnation.
He stresses that crafting a new charter would take years.
But Vallas notes there are things the City Council can do without a new charter, such as establishing an independent budget office to examine the mayor’s spending proposals and making the council a co-equal part of local government.
Vallas says Lightfoot — any mayor, really — needs to be challenged on their budget proposals, and the council needs better information.
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