Chicago’s mayoral race is a mere week away, and candidates have finally settled in on their positions. Given that there are 14 candidates still in the race, a runoff is expected. Though it’s unlikely our city’s fate will be decided Feb. 26, here are where the candidates stand on three of the race’s most-discussed topics.

Gery Chico

Education:

-Rebuild CPS by renovating schools using leftover TIF

-Expand technical education opportunities, college prep programs, and the city’s One Summer Chicago program

Economics:

-“Growing our economy from the middle out,” according to his website

-Open a temporary casino

-Transit TIF to fund projects for public infrastructure

Violence:

-Gire CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson

-Create a CPD Deputy Superintendent for Gun Violence Prevention

-Sue Wisconsin and Indiana for their poorly enforced gun laws

Bill Daley

Education:

-Eliminate “CPS bureaucracy,”

-Rethink neighborhood boundaries

-Work with two- and four-year colleges to reduce the price of attendance

Economics:

-Avoid raising taxes on the local level, bring in new state revenue

-Modernize all city agencies with new technology

Violence:

-Reduce shootings by 75% during his first term.

-Require background checks on all gun sales, impose fines for illegal gun possession, and insist judges give those convicted of illegal gun possession tougher sentences.

-Require an outcomes oriented culture appoint a Deputy Mayor for Violence Prevention, who will report to him

Amara Enyia

Education:

-Support a fully elected school board

-Redraw the CPS school boundarie

-Change the school funding formula and review selective enrollment system

Economics:

-Public bank

-Reinvest in all neighborhoods, instead of those which typically draw tourism like the Loop

Violence:

-Empower communities to self-monitor

-Build sustainable and strong block clubs across the city

Bob Fioretti

Education:

-Hybrid school board

-Open parent engagement and support centers

-Teaching students about trades

Economics:

-Chicago casino

-Commuter tax

-TIF reform

Violence:

-Invest in neighborhoods

-Reopen mental health clinics

-Hire more law enforcement personnel

-Open a new crime lab.

La Shawn K. Ford

Education:

-Expand “enrichment activities” -Fully elected school board

Economics:

-Eliminate fee structures like red light cameras and car boot

-Immediate moratorium on new TIFs

Violence:

-Create an Office of Violence Prevention

-Expand restorative justice

Jerry Joyce

Education:

-Hybrid-elected school board, where six members are elected and one, who has a student in CPS, is appointed by the mayor

-Ensure the crime of sexual assault of children receives a sentence of no-less than 20 years

Economics:

-Legalize marijuana and use that money toward unfunded pension liabilities.

-TIF reform

Violence:

-Hire more officers

-Create the position of “detective emeritus,” which would bring back recently retired detectives when necessary

-Repurpose closed CPS buildings as new fire and police training facilities

John Kozlar

Education:

-Reduce the number of students per classroom to 20-25 students

-Fully elected school board

Economics:

-No tax raises

-Advocate for fair wages and quality healthcare

Violence:

-Let the police do their job

-Encourage the community to work with the police in the CAPS program.

Lori Lightfoot

Education:

-Ensure that every neighborhood has a level 1 or 1+ elementary and high school

-Racial Equity assessment conducted by CPS before putting policies, programs or budgets into place

-Fully elected school board

Economics:

-Ensure that women- and minority-owned businesses are not overlooked by city contractors

-Make the process of creating and closing TIF-funded districts more transparent to citizens.

Violence:

-Address gun violence as a public health crisis by looking at the root causes

-Replace CPD’s gang database

Garry McCarthy

Education:

-Reinvest in neighborhood schools with money from selling closed schools

-Hybrid school board

Economics:

-Borrow no more money

-Hold government accountable on performance based metrics

Violence:

-Eliminate micromanagement of police by city hall

Susana Mendoza

Education:

-Expand early childhood education and utilize TIF funds for child care

-Increase access to arts and sports

-Turn 50 underused schools into community centers

Economics:

-Invest downtown fees into neighborhoods

-Allow “fix-it” tickets, correctable violations

-Promote summer job programs

Violence:

-Prioritize de-escalation training

-Implement consent decree

Toni Preckwinkle

Education:

-Fully elected school board

-New funding formula to add $7 billion for education

-End charter school reliance

Economics:

-Increase city’s investments through small business microloans

-Create neighborhood opportunity fund

Violence:

-Keep nonviolent offenders out of jail

-Create Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice

-Improve police training and crime-solving capacity

Neal Sales-Griffin

Education:

-Rebuild special education programs

-Hybrid school board

Economics:

-Attract big companies without being detrimental to residents

-Create Office of Vocational Training and Employment

Violence:

-Create Office for Violence Prevention

-Use data to reduce force and racial disparities

Paul Vallas

Education:

-Implement plan to relieve debt from student loans

-Place IB, dual enrollment and early college programs in neighborhood schools

Economics:

-Balanced city budget

-Solve pension funding issue

Violence:

-Increase number of officers and restore detectives

Willie Wilson

Education:

-Fully elected school board

-Give parents and students vocational study options starting junior or senior year

Economics:

-Community-based grants

-Employ homeless population in temporary jobs

Violence:

-Full transparency from police and government; no more “cover-ups”

-Boost neighborhood watch programs