U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-IL., says he’s not running for Chicago mayor. That may set back chances the city will have a Latino in that office. But some immigrant-rights activists are relieved.
At least three Latinos are running for mayor: Gery Chico, Miguel Del Valle and Wilfredo De Jesús.
The list won’t include Luis Gutiérrez. He says he’ll stay in Congress and stay focused on his signature issue: immigration.
His goals include a path to citizenship for the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented residents.
LOZANO: For me it’s excellent news.
Activist Emma Lozano is pastor of Chicago’s Lincoln United Methodist Church. Immigration enforcement is weighing heavily on some of her congregants.
Gutiérrez wants to address that after next month’s election.
LOZANO: I’m really looking forward to the campaign that he’s laid out to keep these families together and to stop the deportations and the raids.
Lozano says Gutiérrez will do more good in Congress than in Chicago’s City Hall.