Congressman Mike Quigley is officially running for Chicago.

Mayor.

>> The 9 term representative from Illinois's 5th district launched his campaign Saturday at the historic but crumbling uptown theater using the landmark as a symbol of what he says is needed to restore Chicago's promise quickly joins a crowded race in the February 2027 mayoral election becoming the 4th candidate to enter the contest this month.

Joining us now to talk about his campaign is Mike quickly, Democratic congressman and now candidate for Mayor.

Congressman, welcome back.

Thanks for joining us.

So you have to be back.

You've been in Washington for the last 17 years.

What made you want to throw your hat in the ring for Mayor?

>> Yeah, it's tough to watch the city.

You love so much struggle the way that we are in You know, the fact matter is Chicago has everything it needs to succeed its location, its people, its cultural institutions, that universities its neighborhoods is so much more.

But it's all recien on a crumbling financial, foundation that needs to be fixed.

That's something I worked when I was Cook County commissioner come appearing on channel 11 quite a bit and something I now realize that someone has to take take it directly.

>> Your life as a public servant has been been spent mostly a as a legislator.

Are you prepared to move into the executive role?

>> a look.

I I get my masters in public policy from the University of Chicago.

And as you might recall, is that as county commission, I wrote detailed reports about how to restructure the county and how local government can be more efficient.

Those are the kinds are reports that we need put into place here.

If Chicago is going to succeed, I think the most important aspect of talent, the next mayor has is a willingness to make tough choices.

And I certainly done that not just as a Cook County commissioner, but the serving in Congress.

As you recall, I was I was the first one to tell Biden needs to step aside.

That was with Obama on his trade deals and many of his other tough.

And so he's someone who knows what to do.

But he's also had experience experience, making those tough choices.

>> So you've said city would could be insolvent by the time.

The next mayor is elected.

How dire would you say the city's financial situation is?

>> Well, somewhere between 30 and 40% of our revenues are going to debt and pension.

The fact is when the property tax bills were late, there was a real tough time making those monthly pension payments.

So any blip in the economy and I'm very, very concerned that our pension funds these so poor, I'm going to be able to make the required payments.

The city itself has a structural deficit that's only getting worse.

So it you know what happens between now and next mayor when the next mayor takes next May when the next mayor takes office is really going depend on what the polls, what those with his car we have a very real chance that we won't be able to meet our obligations.

And the concern is that with short-term borrowing and risky borrowing and that taking on these tough choices, the situation will indeed be dire.

>> What would you do to get the city back on track?

I think the first thing you do is change the climate in the culture and recognize that this is a city that needs to work again.

>> And all that.

But we have too many slow zones on the CTA.

It shouldn't cost a billion dollars a mile to extend the red line.

fan of that and get the money out of the House for the extension of the Red line.

And we have not just the financial crisis, but a housing crisis.

We're probably 100,000 units short of where we need to be.

When I was getting out of college.

28 was the average age for a first time home buyer.

It's now 40 and for too many Chicagoans, there's never a chance to own that first home.

So we're going to focus on affordability starting with housing are north stars to build between 15 100,000 new units within the next decade.

The city's down a million in population from the early 50's.

We have to move in the other direction.

We're simply not going to able to tax our way out of this problem.

We're going to have to grow our way out of this problem.

But we can do it.

>> Congressman, you've said that you want to make cuts to the city's budget as well since spending on public safety know, including the police department accounts for two-thirds of the city's discretionary spending cuts to CPD be on the table for you.

>> Now, I think the way address public safety is to use the programs like Rad cease-fire.

anti-violence programs that President Trump has cut so much.

I think we need to spend more on those because I do believe they're cost effective.

I think the way to go after our city's finances is to address.

The fact that we actually have a higher county worker count than we did before COVID and that hasn't gone down.

Our budgets gone out still hasn't gone down.

So again, the reports I wrote about how to streamline and consolidate local government will fit into play here.

It's all a bit a little bit of that with Ernst and Young's reports that talked about cost sharing about centralizing procurement, the whole list of things that again, we detail over 20 years ago, they have to be put in place right away to begin the cost savings.

>> Another issue at the top of mind for many Chicagoans is the bears and whether or not they will leave Chicago for Indiana.

But you said that retaining the beer, the Bears in Chicago would not be a top priority for you.

Why not?

>> Well, I I think at this point time it's up to the General Assembly to make that call.

So by the time next, may rolls around this decision will be made.

It's really hard to say that the bears are a priority.

We short of housing when our when our schools are overcrowded some areas, we're just not getting the job done.

How can I tell who want better schools who need more police who won so many other public services like shelter beds that time we're going to help the billionaire's building new stadium.

It's just can't be the priority that the General Assembly wants to act.

My best guess is that Arlington?

I swear they're likely going end up.

I think there's still concerns with the site locations in Indiana.

But in the in the final analysis, this is a decision for the governor, the General Assembly I want the Bears to say it's just a but for me to say that's a higher priority than public safety or schools is just a mistake.

>> before we run out of time, as I'm sure, you know, 2 of your Democratic colleagues in the House from New York lost their primary challenges to far-left candidates.

Many are reviewing the results of that election as an indicator that voters are rejecting the more centrist and establishment candidates.

Of course, Brandon Johnson himself is from the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Are Chicagoans ready to elect more moderate candidate?

>> You know, I think New York stands by itself and I left those voters make their own choice.

we also know Democrats also elected several very moderate governors, right?

So I think you have to take it case by case.

I think the citizens of Chicago recognize the crisis that we're in.

They have a progressive agenda.

I have a progressive agenda.

But if we're spending 40% of our revenues pain death.

Paying for pensions were simply not going to be able to commit to any sort of agenda, much less