"Eight years ago, I challenged an incumbent who had considerable financial and political resources, was close to the White House, and President (Barack) Obama declared himself in his favor. He endorsed him and that decided the election." At the age of 66, after having been a commissioner in Cook County and served a term in the United States Congress, Jesús "Chuy" García wants a revenge and thinks that time is on his side.

García was born in Durango, Mexico, and came to Chicago with his family when he was only 10 years old. He says that this time the stage is set up. He is not longer the same, he has gained important executive and legislative experience; Latinos neither, they are 30% of the population in the third largest city in the United States and they occupy strategic places in institutions. García is one of the 8 candidates who decided to sign up to challenge the current Democratic mayor, the African-American Lori Lightfoot, on February 28th. But he feels his name will become a national reference if the Illinois city elects a Latino to govern it for the first time.

What is at stake in this election in Chicago?

The city is dealing with a series of challenges including public safety that affects every part of the neighborhoods and prevents a return to normality. In addition, the economy is not working as well as it can to generate more resources for the well-being of the city, from jobs to sources of income for investment in neighborhoods. The lack of security also means that investors are going to other cities in the country. Consequently, in demographic terms, the city is shrinking. The public education system also represents a challenge. Historically, disinvestment in marginalized areas of the city, in other words, poverty rates, especially in the Afro-descendant community and in others as well.

In your opinion, what is the national relevance of the election in Chicago?

The two important things that can tip the scales are, on the one hand, which path Chicago is going to take, and on the other hand, the historic opportunity for Chicago to elect its first Latino mayor, of Mexican origin and immigrant. One of the factors in entering the race was wanting to break that barrier and make history because we think that it also means something that the Latino community, being almost 20% of the national population, at least in the third largest city in the United States can take the helm of leadership, of showing vision and ability to govern and to govern in coalition and collaboration with other ethnic communities, the Afro-American, the European and also the growing Asian community. That is Chicago's diverse demographic landscape. Being one of the political leaders with a lot of experience and post relations, I intend to be the next mayor and compete in the election that will take place at the end of the month.

One thing that can tip the scales is which path Chicago is going to take. It is an opportunity for Chicago to elect its first Latino mayor, of Mexican origin and immigrant. One of the factors in entering the race was wanting to break that barrier and make history

Latinos make up 30% of Chicago's population, but Latino voter turnout tends to be much lower than that of African-Americans and white people. Why?

Yes, that is a fact. The main factors that explain the low participation rate of Latinos are two. One is the immigration factor: there are many people who are not citizens yet, they do not have the right to vote, that affects the percentage of who is eligible to vote, and it also affects the electoral roll. Second, we are the youngest population in Chicago, i.e. that there are many children who do not vote -because of their age-, so that limits our power. We are working to overcome it, the community continues to grow. It is a slow process but we are in a winning position because there are 9 candidates, including the incumbent mayor, and there are 6 African-American candidates in the battle. So if a coalition between Latinos and Afro-Americans is created, among a bit of the Asian and European vote, this is the formula to be able to go to the second round. The contest changes dramatically in a second round.

Un mexicano podría ser el próximo alcalde de Chicago

It is said that Latinos are often indifferent to politics. What is your message to them in this election? Why should they go vote? What is your message to summon them?

First of all, I think that Latinos are frustrated by not being able to carry out immigration reform at the federal level in Washington. I really know that situation. On the other hand, we are encouraging young people to get involved and vote because they have an opportunity to open doors, make a difference, have an impact, and at the same time, help us build progressive coalitions with other groups. Historically, I am a candidate for change, progressive, to the left of the center, I have favored many public policies that benefit working people, students, graduates or university students, access to health, the fight against climate change and, of course, immigration reform. These are issues that have a lot of repercussions within the Latino population and there is a desire, there is a trend of aspiration in which people want to break the barrier of not having had a Latino mayor or mayoress.

Jesús "Chuy" García

You say that Latinos are frustrated that they have not got an immigration reform. Is it due to the Republican opposition and federal judges, or is the Democratic administration also responsible?

Well, the main obstacle is in the Senate of the United States. Republicans have not wanted to support a comprehensive immigration reform. The community and the pro-immigrant movement have been frustrated in both chambers, but the most recent ones in the last four years have been in the Senate. We have passed bills that have died in the Senate, because the Senate succumbs to the xenophobic position of the Republican Party. If this has not been the case, we would have passed the Dream Act that would have legalized DACA for young people, another law, the one that would have extended legalization to farm workers, would have been passed, and also another bill that would have minimally extended the right to work and live in the United States, even if people did not have permanent residence. These are the bills that we passed in the lower house and were stalled in the Senate mainly by Republican opposition. To make things worse, the federal courts have not been favorable either because they seek to end DACA, for example.

Among the reasons for the low participation of Latinos there are the immigration factor and that many people are not citizens yet, they do not have the right to vote. Second, we are the youngest population in Chicago and that limits our power.

Why do you say that rivals like Democrat Paul Vallas want to deport migrants and they appeal to anti-Latino rhetoric?

Those candidates who say that they are Democrats but they lean towards anti-immigrant and xenophobic positions are now running for mayor and want to project themselves as friends of the Latino community, but I think the real character has to do with statements they have made in the past. This is the case of Paul Vallas, when he says that the undocumented people must be apprehended and deported to their places of origin and that we must cooperate with what at that time were the forces of Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security. Now they want to be friends with immigrants because they want votes from Latinos and immigrants in Chicago.

Jesús "Chuy" García

How is your proposal for the administration different from that of the current Democratic mayor, Lightfoot? What is your main difference with her?

The ability to achieve goals and initiatives. Four years ago, I endorsed the current mayoress, because I saw her as a new, fresh, energetic, well-prepared and capable alternative, but over the four years I have been very disappointed in her leadership and inability to carry out reforms and economic development projects in Chicago. She was confrontational with the more progressive forces on the City Council, in other words, she argued with everyone and has achieved almost nothing that can be called progress.

I am a candidate for change, progressive, to the left of the center, I have favored many public policies that benefit working people, students, access to health, the fight against climate change and, of course, immigration reform.

Eight years ago, I challenged an incumbent who had considerable financial and political resources, was close to the White House, and President Obama declared himself in his favor. He endorsed him and that decided the election. But I think the most important thing in the last eight years has been my experience in government positions, one in the county and the other in the federal government, in the United States Congress. That experience is key for Chicago because we have passed bills that will continue to provide important infrastructure financing resources for Chicago, which can help us a lot to improve public transportation systems, the installation of internet systems, the reconstruction of highways and the modernization of the infrastructure of O'Hare International Airport, our connection with the rest of the world. All these projects are being started with the resources that the federal government contributes, and I was part of those efforts to help Chicago.

I endorsed the current mayoress, because I saw her as a new, fresh, energetic, well-prepared and capable alternative, but over the four years I have been very disappointed in her leadership and inability to carry out reforms and economic development projects in Chicago. she argued with everyone and has achieved almost nothing that can be called progress.

You were born in a small town in northern Mexico and your farmer father worked in the fields of California, Kansas and Texas. What is the reality of the new Latino generations in Chicago today?

The community in Chicago has changed significantly. The fact that we are 30 percent of the population is a different reality for those who are coming to Chicago. There are institutions that are managed by the Latino community: we are more people from different countries, many from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, but we are also geographically concentrated in electoral districts, which means that we have a bit of political muscle. There are sectors of commerce in many areas of the city, we run companies, there is a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, there is a lot of economic vitality in our city and in the suburbs as well. Another reality that changed from 65, the majority of the Latino population, almost 60% already lives in the suburbs. We preside over the University of Illinois, the chancellor of the university is Mexican, we are in educational situations.

[Quién es "Chuy" García, el mexicano que pelea la alcaldía de Chicago contra un alfil de Obama]

Is it the same story for you or is it a different one?

Nowadays there is more support for the integration of newcomers, a current instance is, for example, the arrival of people seeking political asylum, who come from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba. That is the new phenomenon, that they are not migrants as we were in other waves of migration, these immigrants who are seeking political asylum. So they represent something different from the migratory layers that we have seen in Chicago, but here we are welcoming them, assisting them so that they can adapt, integrate into the communities and of course fighting for their human rights, well treated, that they have shelter and, of course, people who have been persecuted, tortured, assaulted in different ways by coyotes at the border, human trafficking and sexual exploitation should be taken care of.

Translator: Bibiana Ruiz.