Emboldened by CPS Strife, CTU Critics Pour More Cash into School Board Elections
A Month Out from Election Day, Business and Charter School Interests Infuse Cash and Step Up in School Board Races Against the CTU
As the leadership struggle at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) drags on in public view, the city’s first-ever school board elections are heating up in the background and turning into a de facto referendum on the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Business and Charter School Interests Infuse Cash and Step Up in School Board Races
A month out from Election Day, business and charter school interests that have raised millions of dollars are now infusing cash and stepping up in school board races against the CTU – in three districts dishing out so much money that election officials have lifted the contribution limits.
Chicago Democrats for Education: A Counterbalance to the CTU
One recently formed political action committee, Chicago Democrats for Education, has the explicit intention of providing a counterbalance to the CTU. “They have 10 CTU candidates; they’re gonna do exactly what they are told to do, right?” said Hugo Jacobo, the heavyweight political consultant who formed the committee. “So we need people that are gonna sit there and actually make tough decisions about the budget and everything that’s going on in the city.”
CTU-Backed Candidates Focus on Fully Funded Schools, Equity, and More
Meanwhile, the union is pulling on its more limited funds – plus its notoriously strong field organizing and campaigning – to try to push its own candidates over the finish line. “We’ve been knocking on doors for the last six weeks, and we’re gonna continue to knock on doors with an army of volunteers who want to make sure that the public is educated around this,” said Hilario Dominguez, a CTU political coordinator helping lead the affiliated Our Schools PAC formed in July. “Our opponents are going to try to confuse the public. They are going to hope that the public is going to go in there and vote for the first name they see.”
Contribution Caps Lifted in Three Districts
Union-supported candidates Jason Dónes in District 3, Lanetta Thomas in District 9, and Robert Jones in District 10 were informed by election officials that the contribution caps were removed in their races. That can happen if a candidate gives more than $100,000 to their own campaign fund or a super PAC or individual spends more than $100,000 on a race.
Charter School Interests and Super PACs Spend Big
There are 31 school board candidates running in 10 geographic voting districts. Their campaign committees have directly received a total of $1,075,121 in contributions and loans as of Thursday, a Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ analysis shows. That’s aside from $348,389 in-kind contributions in the races and much more that’s still expected to come.
CTU’s Two PACs and Community Groups Spend $253,000
The CTU’s two PACs and a few others led by related community groups have spent more than $253,000 in support of their candidates since June through in-kind contributions, such as mailers, field canvassing, and consulting, state campaign records show.
Super PACs Opposing the Union Have $3.6 Million to Spend
Two super PACs opposing the union had around $3.6 million to spend at the start of September and are now making their move. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools has reported shelling out $526,974 in the past two weeks on digital ads and mailers supporting seven candidates. INCS also reported spending $30,000 on digital ads opposing the CTU-endorsed Karen Zaccor in the 4th District.
Conclusion
The school board elections are heating up, with business and charter school interests pouring in millions of dollars to support their candidates. The CTU is fighting back with its own campaign efforts, but the question remains: what does this mean for the future of public education in Chicago?
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of the school board elections in Chicago?
A: The school board elections are the first-ever in Chicago, and they will determine the future of public education in the city.
Q: Who is supporting the CTU candidates?
A: The CTU is supporting its own candidates, as well as candidates from related community groups.
Q: Who is opposing the CTU candidates?
A: Business and charter school interests are opposing the CTU candidates, with two super PACs having around $3.6 million to spend.
Q: What are the issues at stake in the school board elections?
A: The issues at stake include fully funded schools, equity, and the need for more sports programming and arts education.
Q: What is the impact of the school board elections on public education in Chicago?
A: The outcome of the school board elections will determine the future of public education in Chicago, including the direction of the district and the priorities of the school board.
