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Chicago Mayor Frontrunner Targets Crime, Taxes to Court Business

  • Mayoral candidate Vallas pledged to ‘hold the line’ on taxes
  • Ex-schools chief touted his experience to navigate a recession
Paul Vallas
Paul VallasPhotographer: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg

Chicago’s mayoral frontrunner Paul Vallas is taking a leaf out of Rahm Emanuel’s book to try to lure businesses back.

As the city grapples with rising violence and high-profile corporate departures, the former boss of school districts has pledged to be tough on crime, the No. 1 issue for corporations. He also wants to “hold the line” on taxes, fines and fees, and reduce bureaucracy in a bid to sell Chicago as a business-friendly destination.