A well-funded, newly formed political committee is endorsing dozens of City Council candidates in the Feb. 22 election, the Chicago News Cooperative learned Wednesday.
The group, called For A Better Chicago, is led by Greg Goldner, a former campaign manager for retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley and mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel.
The committee has collected more than $850,000 but has avoided disclosing the names of the donors who filled its coffers. Goldner, who denies ties between his group and the Emanuel mayoral bid, has said only that most contributions have come from business interests.
The formation of For A Better Chicago was first reported by the CNC last month, spurring loud criticism from labor unions who long have been heavily invested in aldermanic politics.
State records show the new committee already has donated $10,000 to each of five council incumbents.
These are the candidates that For A Better Chicago is endorsing:
1st Ward Proco “Joe” Moreno
2nd Ward Genita Robinson
3rd Ward Pat Dowell
4th Ward William “Will” Burns
5th Ward Leslie Hairston
6th Ward No endorsement at this time
7th Ward Sandi Jackson
8th Ward Michelle Harris
9th Ward Anthony Beale
10th Ward John Pope
11th Ward James Balcer
12th Ward No endorsement at this time
15th Ward No endorsement at this time
16th Ward JoAnn Thompson
17th Ward Latasha Thomas
18th Ward Lona Lane
19th Ward Matt O’Shea
20th Ward Willie Cochran
21st Ward Howard Brookins
22nd Ward No endorsement at this time
23rd Ward Michael Zalewski
24th Ward No endorsement at this time
25th Ward Danny Solis
26th Ward Roberto Maldonado
27th Ward Walter Burnett
28th Ward Jason Ervin
29th Ward Deborah Graham
30th Ward Ariel Reboyras
32nd Ward Scott Waguespack
34th Ward Carrie Austin
35th Ward No endorsement at this time
36th Ward John Rice
37th Ward Emma Mitts
38th Ward Timothy Cullerton
39th Ward Margaret Laurino
41st Ward No endorsement at this time
43rd Ward No endorsement at this time
45th ward No endorsement at this time
46th Ward No endorsement at this time
47th Ward Tom O’Donnell
48th Ward Harry Osterman
49th Ward No endorsement at this time
50th Ward Debra Silverstein
In wards without a contested race (13, 14, 31, 33, 40, 42 and 44), FBC PAC will not make an endorsement.