Chicago Teachers Union votes to back Toni Preckwinkle in mayor's race

The Chicago Teachers Union voted to endorse Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the Chicago mayor’s race on Wednesday, giving Preckwinkle another high-profile public worker union’s support.

The endorsement is expected to be made public at a news conference Thursday morning at the headquarters of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, where Preckwinkle is scheduled to accept the backing of the CTU, Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois and SEIU Local 73. SEIU Local 1 previously endorsed Preckwinkle.

The teachers union’s political and legislative committees had recommended endorsing Preckwinkle and nearly two dozen other candidates around the city, an internal communication shows. The union’s executive committee “supported by large margins” endorsing the recommended candidates, including Preckwinkle.

The union’s House of Delegates voted to provide Preckwinkle the endorsement Wednesday evening, members confirmed.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-mayors-race-teachers-union-preckwinkle-20181205-story.html