By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidates and a reform-aligned commentator each claimed success Wednesday after the city’s first elected school board concluded its initial elections.
The competing claims highlight unresolved questions over who will control the 10-member board, which is taking on budget and governance decisions previously held by the mayor’s office.
Florian Sohnke, founder of the publication Chicago Contrarian, said reform-minded candidates had a strong showing despite losing some races. “I think we believe this is like an 8 out of 10 victory,” Sohnke said.
Sohnke said late outside spending by groups including Common Ground ended up benefiting Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidates rather than the reform-minded candidates it was intended to support. “It played right into the Chicago Teachers Union’s hands,” he said.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates addressed the results in remarks aired during the broadcast, calling for parents to “have a voice in every policy … decision that this city faces.”
Sohnke pointed to Davis Gates’ pointed reaction as evidence the results favored reform-minded candidates. “CTU lost in these elections. They lost big,” he said.
Final, certified results for the board were not immediately available Wednesday. The Chicago Board of Elections is expected to certify the results in the coming days.
