Sawyer should be your choice for mayor
Experience is what Chicago needs now
Once voters overlook his opponents’ empty campaign promises and pipedream positions, Sixth Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer is the clear choice to be Chicago’s next mayor.
Sawyer, who is currently serving his third term as alderman, isn’t a bright spot on the mayoral polling radar. Nor is he seen as a prolific fund-raiser. When we judge candidates by either of those criterion we looking at who we like as opposed to who can do the best job. Liking someone doesn’t mean they are competent and capable of doing the job effectively and immediately. Those are the two main qualities Sawyer brings.
Given the financial shape Chicago is in the city doesn’t need and shouldn’t get a mayor who made campaign promises with absolutely no idea of how to pay for them. When your household has overdue bills, you don’t go out on a spending spree-you conserve your money and make smart financial decisions until you are out of the woods. That is the kind of campaign platform Sawyer has presented.
His time on council means he has no learning curve when it comes to the Federal consent decree under which CPD must operate. Since the decree was implemented, CPD has not been in full compliance with any of it. A great deal of that can be attributed to mayors who didn’t fully understand how the department works.
Additionally, we are not likely to see the debilitating friction between the mayor’s office and city council with Sawyer dealing with many of his former colleagues. Of course, there will be disagreements but both sides undoubtedly will start with a mutual respect versus starting from combative stances.
Sawyer’s long tenure on the council translates into a keen familiarity with the issues and needs of wards across the city-not just the South Side. Again, it is part of the much needed familiarity with city government we need from day one of whoever sits in the mayor’s chair next.
Chicago’s next mayor should be one who does not rely on gimmicks or unfounded promises or a reputation of who they used to be or what they used to do; but one who has put in the work and fully understand what has to happen next. Chicago needs Rod Sawyer as its next mayor.