The SEIU Illinois State Council recently contributed $1.1 million to an independent expenditure group, Brighter Futures Chicago, indicating plans for significant spending in the Chicago school board race. This move comes as tensions rise with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), a former ally now turned rival.
This financial boost to the super PAC emerged days before a public disagreement on social media between CTU Vice President Jackson Potter and SEIU Illinois Executive Director Anthony Driver. Driver, who established Brighter Futures Chicago, is at the forefront of this escalating conflict, reflecting a broader schism between the two influential unions that previously supported Mayor Brandon Johnson’s rise to office.
The rift expanded last year centered on CPS employees, and now the upcoming November election has intensified the division. The CTU and SEIU back different candidates for school board president. SEIU supports Jessica Biggs, while CTU endorses Hilario Dominguez. Financial backing underscores these endorsements. SEIU recently contributed $150,000 to Biggs, whereas Dominguez has received nearly $100,000 in in-kind contributions from CTU.
The CPS budget proposal highlights a primary point of contention. The CTU-supported budget includes a $10.11 billion plan that relies on $150 million of unconfirmed state funding. District leaders caution that this reliance may necessitate midyear budget cuts if the funding falls through. CTU defends the budget as necessary pressure on lawmakers for more funding, while SEIU criticizes it as a risky gamble.
The tension spilled into a Facebook exchange, with Driver posting criticism of the budget plan, sparking a heated response from Potter. Driver challenged Potter to a public debate, further exemplifying the discord.
SEIU’s stance is articulated by President Dian Palmer, who calls for a well-defined plan should the anticipated funds not materialize. Palmer has communicated with Illinois lawmakers seeking their action plan, stressing that hope alone cannot support a budget.
CTU, on the other hand, maintains that the revised budget compels necessary state involvement. With state funding only meeting 70% of needs, down from 73% the previous year, CTU attributes layoffs and program cuts to insufficient state support. Potter insists that these budget measures press the state to fulfill its responsibilities.
CTU urges CPS to engage in immediate negotiations to reconsider the recent layoffs. Meanwhile, CPS has solicited input from school principals to identify pressing staffing shortages, reflecting efforts to address personnel reductions.
Driver, addressing the media, characterizes the ongoing dispute as a fundamental disagreement on board operations, emphasizing the significant influence CTU holds over the Board of Education and the mayor’s office. He views the conflict not as a clash between unions but rather a defense against dominant forces.
While the battle for board president intensifies, other special interest groups have yet to commit major financial investments. However, expectations are rising for significant spending in what could become the nation’s largest school board race.
The $1.1 million transfer to Brighter Futures Chicago will directly support campaigns for school board candidates as all 21 board seats enter the election phase. The board is transitioning from seven mayoral appointments to a mixed composition with ten elected and eleven appointed members under Mayor Johnson.
The financial strategies of both unions reflect their strategic importance. SEIU’s PAC reported $29,000 in cash on hand in June, later supplemented with $315,000 from member dues. Meanwhile, CTU’s PAC recorded $377,000, illustrating the unions’ role as formidable participants in electoral campaigns.
Despite the divides, there are five candidates benefiting from both CTU and SEIU endorsements. The unions’ support carries considerable weight, offering financial aid and grassroots mobilization to influence the election outcome.
CTU represents over 30,000 professionals in CPS, while SEIU Local 73 supports 13,000 support staff, reinforcing their significant stake in this school board race.