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Paul Vallas warns Chicago school board and mayoral elections are being dominated by wealthy political insiders
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas criticizes teachers union influence, Michael Sacks’ political spending, Gov. JB Pritzker, and mayoral candidate Alexi Giannoulias while endorsing Victor Henderson for school board president in an appearance on the “Ray Hanania on Politics” podcast. View Video Podcast below.
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO and two-time mayoral candidate Paul Vallas warned that Chicago’s upcoming school board and mayoral elections are becoming battles for political control rather than contests over education, government accountability and the needs of taxpayers.
During an appearance on the “Ray Hanania on Politics“ podcast Friday, October 30, Vallas criticized the growing influence of wealthy political donors, particularly Chicago businessman Michael Sacks, and accused political insiders of attempting to determine who will lead Chicago Public Schools and who will become the city’s next mayor.
Vallas, who led February 2023 contest over eight other candidates with 32 percent, narrowly lost the April 2023 mayoral runoff to Brandon Johnson. He said during the podcast that the November 3, 2026 school board election could have consequences extending far beyond education into the next elections.
He argued that Chicago’s schools are facing serious financial and academic problems while powerful political interests are spending millions of dollars to influence the outcome of the election.
“This election in many respects is as important. It sets the stage for the mayor’s election,” Vallas said. “As you know, Sacks is also trying to handpick the next mayor by clearing the field and raising a ton of money for Alexi Giannoulias, despite the fact that there are other very formidable candidates, like Susanna Mendelson, Maria Pappas, John Kelly, Willie Wilson, and others who are running in that race. He’s trying to clear the field for Alexi.”
Vallas said voters face a choice between candidates supported by the Chicago Teachers Union and those backed by wealthy donors associated with former Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Vallas endorsed attorney and businessman Victor Henderson for president of the Chicago Board of Education, describing Henderson as “an independent alternative” to both factions.
“He is one candidate in the race who will not be controlled by the teachers union or not be controlled by what I call the Michael Sacks/Rahm Emanuel faction,” Vallas said. “As you know, Sacks was one of the biggest contributors next to George Soros to Kim Foxx, (donating) $1.3 million to Kim Foxx.”
Vallas criticized the two other leading candidates, including the teachers union-backed Hilario Dominguez and Jessica Biggs, who is supported by Sacks, and he raised questions about their professional histories.
Candidates and petition signature totals they filed
for the Feb. 23, 2027 Mayoral election:
Alexi Giannoulias approximately 60,000
Mike Quigley 41,587
Maria Pappas Just under 40,000
John Kelly 35,993
Brandon Johnson 33,000
Matt Brewer At least 32,064
Joe Holberg 32,000
George Cardenas 31,500
Lisa Nee 31,000
Willie Wilson 28,546
Susana Mendoza 26,000
Zoe Ma 17,000
Danielle Carter-Walters 13,000
William Quinlan … unknown
John Kitover … unknown
Jessica “Jesse” Maronto … unknown
Vallas said the financial condition of Chicago Public Schools makes independent leadership essential.
He claimed the district has lost 126,000 students since his tenure and that per-pupil spending has increased 44 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels.
“They continue to lose students. Their test scores are abysmal,” Vallas said.
He also claimed the city provided $1.3 billion in supplemental financial support to the schools last year.
“The schools are not only on the verge of financial bankruptcy, but they’re dragging the city down with it,” Vallas warned.
Vallas, who served as CPS chief executive officer from 1995 to 2001 under Mayor Richard M. Daley, said the district has abandoned policies that previously emphasized academic accountability, mandatory summer school and alternative education programs.
He accused school officials of promoting students who have not mastered basic reading and mathematics skills.
“You’re graduating kids who statistically, the overwhelming vast majority, are not anywhere near proficiency in reading or math,” Vallas said.
He also criticized what he described as the state’s lowering of academic proficiency standards, arguing that improved graduation statistics conceal serious educational deficiencies.
Vallas reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Sacks, a prominent Chicago financier and political contributor who was closely associated with Emanuel’s administration.
Vallas claimed Sacks is attempting to reestablish political influence over Chicago’s schools and shape the February 23, 2027, mayoral election.
“It’s all about control,” Vallas said. “It’s a combination of ego and control.”
Vallas noted Sacks had personally contributed more than $800,000 to a school board presidential candidate and later provided additional financial support.
Vallas also described a private meeting he had with Sacks in which Sacks warned major donors would not support him if he decided to run for mayor again in the 2027 contest. Vallas said he had no intention of entering the 2027 contest.
He questioned why wealthy political contributors should exercise such influence over government decisions, particularly when their business interests have intersected with public pension investments.
Vallas alleged that Sacks benefited financially from managing investments involving public pension funds and suggested that his political activities were motivated by both financial interests and a desire for influence.
Those assertions reflect Vallas’ characterization of Sacks’ activities and were not independently substantiated in the podcast.
Vallas also criticized Emanuel, arguing that his administration damaged the relationship between Chicago teachers and city government.
He said Emanuel’s treatment of teachers contributed to the increased militancy of the Chicago Teachers Union.
“What radicalized them was just the way he disrespected rank-and-file teachers,” Vallas said.
Despite his differences with Mayor Johnson, Vallas said the two share a negative assessment of Emanuel’s legacy.
“Rahm Emanuel created an enormous mess that we are still cleaning up,” Vallas said.
The conversation shifted to Illinois politics and the November 3 gubernatorial election between Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey.
Vallas criticized Pritzker’s extensive personal spending on political campaigns and suggested that the governor’s wealth has given him an overwhelming advantage over political opponents.
He also questioned Democratic campaign spending during the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, arguing that Democrats sought to help Bailey defeat Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin because Bailey was considered a weaker general-election opponent.
Vallas said Illinois has become a state dominated by one political party, with legislative district boundaries and fundraising disparities making Republican victories increasingly difficult.
“We not only have a one-party state, but within the Democratic Party, there’s no democracy,” Vallas said.
He argued that the absence of meaningful competition has weakened accountability and allowed powerful political donors to exercise disproportionate influence.
Turning to Chicago’s 2027 mayoral election, Vallas accused Sacks and other influential donors of attempting to clear the field for Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
Vallas questioned Giannoulias’ political record and suggested that his current campaign positions were designed to attract progressive voters rather than reflect a consistent governing philosophy.
“I think he’s absolutely clueless on what he’s gonna do,” Vallas said, criticizing what he characterized as campaign promises lacking specific plans.
He argued that other candidates deserve serious consideration, including Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, businessman Willie Wilson and John Kelly.
“Why should we clear the field for him when there are other quality candidates?” Vallas asked.
Vallas predicted that efforts to discourage those candidates from running would fail.
He said several candidates have demonstrated mutual respect despite their political differences and are determined to remain in the contest.
“They’re gonna stay in,” Vallas said, predicting an increasingly contentious campaign as candidates challenge Giannoulias’ record and qualifications.
Vallas also reflected on his unsuccessful 2023 mayoral campaign, saying his ability to connect directly with voters helped him overcome limited early support.
He described neighborhood meetings and ward tours as among the campaign’s most effective strategies.
“We would work our way through the wards,” Vallas said, explaining that open forums gave residents opportunities to question him directly about city government.
He suggested that personal contact with voters was more effective than some of the campaign’s social media activities.
Vallas also criticized Chicago’s major newspapers, arguing that independent journalists, commentators and digital news outlets are increasingly filling a gap left by traditional media organizations.
“What is emerging is an independent media,” he said.
He cited outlets including Wirepoints, Chicago Contrarian and CWB Chicago as examples of independent reporting and commentary that he believes can influence public debate.
Vallas said coordinated attention from independent journalists could force larger media organizations to examine issues they might otherwise overlook.
Throughout the interview, Vallas returned to the argument that political power in Chicago has become concentrated among wealthy contributors, organized political interests and insiders who seek to influence elections before voters have their say.
He maintained that an independent school board president and a genuinely competitive mayoral election are essential to restoring public accountability.
For Vallas, the upcoming elections represent more than a contest between individual candidates. They are a test of whether Chicago voters can reclaim influence over decisions affecting public education, city finances and the future of municipal government.
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Read Paul Vallas’ opinion columns at Chicago Contrarian.
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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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