CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson has found himself embroiled in two high-profile battles with the Chicago City Council at a key point in his administrative career.
The first includes ShotSpotter, and the second includes Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
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The mayor found himself facing sharp criticism from council members who wanted to keep ShotSpotter, whose contract Johnson canceled last week, with 33 members voting to 14. His latest push to oust Martinez has set up another battle with council members.
“He hasn't learned how to work not only with his colleagues, but even with people he may not agree with,” says ABC7 political analyst Laura Washington. “Politics is a game of addition, not subtraction, and he's losing allies instead of gaining them.”
Many political observers blame these problems on the mayor's lack of political experience.
“There is a big difference between campaigning and governing, and a lot of new politicians don’t understand that,” said political consultant Del Marie Cobb.
Johnson is praised for sticking to the agenda that got him elected, but political analysts say he needs to learn how to pick his battles and count his votes first.
The latest battles with the City Council also come at an inopportune time for the mayor as budget season approaches, when he will need broad support from council members to deal with a budget deficit approaching $1 billion.
“Trump has squandered a lot of political capital, the same political capital, the same friends that he’s going to need to get this budget passed,” Washington said. “He needs votes, he needs friends, he’s made a lot of enemies that he’s going to have to go back to and get close to, and that doesn’t stand him in a very good position.”
Last week, Mayor Johnson said he was not worried about the budget negotiations, and one of his deputies confirmed Wednesday that he was interested in cooperation.
“We are not at war with the City Council. We have never been at war with the City Council. The City Council is a great partner. We will continue to work with them on everything that is on their agenda and our agenda to work together,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garen Gatewood.
Others said political battles at City Hall aren't always a bad thing.
“But you also don't want to go from that fight straight to another fight, and then to another fight, and all the way to the end, because ultimately they're going to have a negative impact, not only on you, but also on your reputation and credibility,” Cobb said.
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