Lobbyist John Kelly Announces Bid for Chicago Mayor, Promises More Police and Gun-Sound Tech
John Kelly, a former city-hall lobbyist and husband of ex-consultant Julie Kelly, entered the Chicago mayoral race, pledging to add 1,000 officers and revive ShotSpotter gun-fire detection.
John Kelly, who formerly lobbied on behalf of the Chicago White Sox, Bally's and the United Center, announced Tuesday that he will run for mayor of Chicago. To qualify, he removed his registration as a city-hall lobbyist. In his campaign launch video, Kelly promised to boost the city's police presence by adding 1,000 officers and to reinstate ShotSpotter, a system that detects gunshots through acoustic monitoring.
He also pledged to curb “teen takeovers,” describing them as groups of youths coordinated via social media that engage in violent and looting behavior. Kelly is married to Julie Kelly, a former political consultant known for backing President Donald Trump, though he describes himself as a Democrat who believes the mayor should not confront the president. The announcement adds a new contender to a crowded mayoral field in the city’s upcoming election.
Why it matters
The entry of a well-connected lobbyist into Chicago's mayoral race could reshape the city's policing and public-safety policies.
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