Chicago Mayoral Race Will Be Theatrical With 'Ald. Showpez' In Running

CHICAGO — I had a premonition that Ald. Raymond Lopez would run for mayor back in April 2020.

[COMMENTARY]

That's when the 15th Ward boss told me he didn't gain the "COVID 19-pounds" by working up a sweat on his WaterRower — the exercise machine made popular by Kevin Spacey's power-hungry character, Frank Underwood, in "House of Cards."

Say what you will about "Ald. Showpez," that's what some of his critics call him, the ward boss certainly has a knack for articulately pontificating his objections to just about everything proposed by Lightfoot's administration, sometimes with R-rated Hollywood-like flair.

Certainly, the former Southwest Airlines skycap who represents a gang-war torn ward on the Southwest Side would try to row and row and row himself into City Hall's 5th floor.

On Wednesday, Lopez made known his intentions to launch a mayoral campaign with a paltry $60,000 in his campaign war chest.

Lopez willingly will give up his City Council seat to run against his arch enemy — and the target of his scorn on Twitter, during City Council debates and on AM radio — Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

It's way too early to predict Lopez's chances. Chicago's election isn't until February 2023.

Gas-giveaway businessman Willie Wilson is expected to announce his campaign for mayor — backed by millions of his own money — on April 11.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas is expected to throw his hat in the ring, too.

And sources say U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley is being pushed by status quo Democrats to be their ballot replacement for former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who dropped his name for consideration.

What Lopez's candidacy — if he follows through with filling petitions this fall — guarantees is campaign trail theatrics, and maybe even a war of dirty words.

After all, Lopez and Lightfoot have exchanged four-letter word insults at each other before.

In an audio recording of a tense call with aldermen and Lightfoot in June 2020 that was leaked to reporters, Lightfoot could be heard saying to Lopez, “I think you’re 100% full of s---."

"Well, f--- you then," Lopez replied. And that about sums up their relationship.

Personally, I enjoy talking with Lopez, though I don't always agree with what he has to say.

The guy has guts. He stands up to local gang members, who have thrown bricks through the windows of his home and office, and tried to burn down his neighbor's garage.

Lopez shovels snow for senior citizens in his ward.

He loves dogs, shares otherwise confidential City Hall correspondence with reporters and stands up for what he believes in — getting rid of City Hall's vaccine mandate, stiffer penalties for criminals and, maybe above all else, supporting rank-and-file cops.

Sometimes, he cracks good jokes on Twitter.

But like Frank Underwood in House of Cards, Lopez's time spent on a fancy rowing machine could be a metaphor for a politician who works hard to get noticed without really getting anywhere.

Lopez's City Hall fights have delayed votes on issues and led to marathon special meetings without rallying enough support to make much of a difference.

And his friendly relationship with indicted Ald. Edward Burke, who Lightfoot has accused Lopez of joining forces with to challenge her every move, is exactly the political anchor that sunk Cook County Democratic Party boss Toni Preckwinkle's mayoral bid.

Lopez's biggest, and most recent donors include the owner of an affordable housing apartment complex, a pallet company and Comcast, according to state records.

There's no telling if Lopez can overcome such mountainous obstacles.

But I have complete confidence that Lopez will put on a show.

Mark Konkol, recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, wrote and produced the Peabody Award-winning series "Time: The Kalief Browder Story." He was a producer, writer and narrator for the "Chicagoland" docuseries on CNN and a consulting producer on the Showtime documentary "16 Shots.

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