I Choose to Look Beyond the Superficial

by Erin Geary

March 29, 2023

We are a week away from an election that will decide the future of Chicago, and I found myself drawn to a WTTW transcript of a recent interview with Jason DeSanto, a Northwestern University senior lecturer and debate strategist. Jason was asked about why race may still dictate how a person will vote in this runoff election.

Jason replied, “…I think there’s a tendency in human nature to identify with people who appear to have experiences similar to us, and it may boil down to that.”

And in 2023, this statement is a testament to the ignorance of the average voter. Identity politics is a recipe for disaster that splits us rather than unites us. I have never voted for candidates based on religion, color, race, sex, etc. Clearly that makes me a sexist and a racist, except that I am a white woman who spends her time volunteering for Project H.O.O.D.

I can already hear the muffled gasps from some women who feel betrayed by my lack of female empowerment and inclusivity. But I don’t believe in voting for someone because it may be historic. I make my choices based on what candidates actually say and their past performances. In other words, I identify as a male voter.

There are reasons why allegiance to arbitrary causes do not cloud my judgement. I have learned a great deal through the wisdom of those who came before me and my own personal ups and downs.

I was raised in a household with a mother who believed strongly in education being the leveler between race and social classes. She grew up in Berwyn, and her family was poor. Her father was an amputee immigrant from Czechoslovakia who spoke broken English, couldn’t get a decent job due to his disability, and took the only job available to him—delivering Bohemian newspapers. Times were harsh, and their city-sized lot became a farm where they grew their own vegetables. They also raised chickens and rabbits and learned, as every farmer knows, never to name any of them.

My mother’s older sister, Mary, was told to drop out of high school in order to get a job. Mary complied. But when my mother’s time came to quit school, she resisted and was often at odds with her father. She debated the merits of education as the way out of poverty. He countered, usually with a strong slap, saying that she needed to do her part by dropping out and getting a job. Mom persevered.

My grandparents never checked her grades, nor did they look at her stellar report cards. I’m not even sure they attended her high school graduation.

This means that she was driven by an innate sense that if she did not graduate, her prospects would dwindle. She seized opportunities when her environment dictated otherwise and did not wait for a government handout. Once she graduated, she quickly found a job working in a bank at the Merchandise Mart.

It was then, and only then, that she started receiving the respect of her father. For he saw that without her high school diploma she never would have gotten beyond a menial job. My mother became the trailblazer for her two younger siblings.

Her valuing of education, both formally and self-propelled by curiosity, was passed down to me and my sisters before she died of cancer in her late 40s.

My eventual decision to become a teacher was anything but a straight road. To be honest, the death of my mother my junior year of college left me unmoored. But we were raised with a strong work ethic, meaning you didn’t wait around for the right job to fall in your lap. Thus, a lack of financial stability after college graduation led me to getting a full-time job at Crate and Barrel. It’s not where I longed to be, but it paid the bills and I learned a lot.

Though I was doing alright, my father sensed a restlessness in me. He presented me with a help wanted ad for Midway Airlines whose growth spurred the need for flight attendants and, soon after my interview, I landed the job. It was an enjoyable adventure until Midway Airlines went bankrupt.

It was the first and only time I sat on an unemployment line, and I hated it. There was nothing more degrading, which I guess was the point. My saving grace was that flight attendants only worked 3-4 days a week, and I had already been working as a substitute teacher at Gage Park High School for extra money on days off. I enjoyed substituting and thought teaching should be my next move.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, CPS was desperate for teachers. Upon the advice of my step-mother, I enrolled in the Chicago Teachers Consortium and attended Chicago State University for certification. Once I received my K-9 certificate, I never looked back.

Those of you who have read my previous columns know that in my 30 year career, I taught children in grades ranging from kindergarten through college within CPS, suburban public and suburban Catholic schools, and at St. Xavier University. I taught with and without unions and understand the pros and cons of each side of the coin.

Add to my life’s resumé being a wife and mother and two time cancer survivor, as well as having a myriad of other illnesses and hospitalizations over the years, and my twisty-turny journey has made me an independent-minded woman who does not suffer fools gladly.

Read enough of my Substack articles and you will see that I have strong opinions about a variety of subjects; but, they are guided by reading, conducting research and careful contemplation before forming a conclusion. And that is what I feel voters today are lacking. Most are too interested in soundbites rather than listening to what candidates are saying—or, more importantly, not saying.

And here is where Jason DeSanto and I differ. I don’t think people vote for those with similar experiences. Who can relate to being a CEO of Chicago Public Schools? Who can relate to being a union organizer and politician. Not many.

I have just laid out my life’s experiences, and one would think that the importance of education in my life and my belief that education is a way out of poverty should lead to an endorsement of Brandon Johnson. After all, he was a teacher and worked for the CTU. We should be kindred spirits.

Equally, I could boil down an endorsement of Paul Vallas to his family’s immigrant story and to the fact that we both attended Moraine Valley Community College. Those ties should bind, right?

Instead, I choose to look beyond the superficial, and it frustrates me that others don’t. This mayoral runoff election is close, and I can’t understand why. We have two Democratic candidates who should be viewed based on their merits and the leadership needed to turn the city around. This election is about the type of Chicago we want to exist, and the differences between each candidate are crystal clear.

You either want Chicago run by Paul Vallas who knows that crime is out of control and will hire more not less police officers, understands budgets and where to make cuts, and understands

that parents deserve to have the best educational choices for their kids to get out of generational poverty.

Or, you want a self-avowed socialist who will hire social workers to handle the jobs of police officers, has no concept of budgeting and needed cuts, wants to underfund the police, and sees no bright future for our school age children because school choice would apply pressure to the teachers’ unions that have given him millions for his campaign.

Clearly, Vallas will not be in the back pocket of teachers’ unions. That’s why the CTU and IFT are throwing everything but the kitchen sink into Brandon Johnson’s campaign. Johnson is one of them and will govern with unions in mind to the continued detriment of Chicago’s children. Remember that the Chicago Public School budget for 2023 is $9.4 BILLION. That is a considerable amount of money that has not created brighter minds or futures. Paul Vallas is eager to offer parents other options because their kids deserve that. It is ridiculous to keep throwing money at a broken system without any other choices available.

At the same time, compare Brandon Johnson’s platform with the desires of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. One of her office’s pet projects is to spend an initial $50

million on the Cook County Equity Fund. Proposals include expansion of funds toward affordable housing, the formation of a Behavioral Health Authority, and a focus on equitable taxation. This all sounds suspiciously familiar. It’s as if Toni has been whispering in Brandon’s ear. Vallas, on the other hand, realizes that we cannot keep taxing and spending our way through problems. Thoughtful budgeting is required.

Additionally, Governor Pritzker held a meeting with both candidates to push his considerable girth around. Pritzker claimed he would stay neutral, but that didn’t last long. For example, Pritzker took offense to Vallas’ stance on the Covid lockdowns and mandates. According to WTTW, “Pritzker said Chicago voters should elect a mayor who will listen to public health experts, not right-wing radio hosts, as first reported by HuffPost.” The fact that Johnson and Pritzker are working in tandem to try and peg Democrat Vallas as a MAGA wannabe is disingenuous and speaks volumes about the relationship Pritzker has already forged with Johnson.

Aren’t these unholy alliances what we are trying to break away from?

Truly consider all that is on the table, so this election does not come down to coloring in the oval for the person who “appears to have similar experiences to us.” Chicagoans cannot keep voting along racial lines and expecting different results. Make no mistake, of the two candidates, Paul Vallas will be his own man and has the vision to lead Chicago forward without being under the thumb of the CTU, Toni Preckwinkle, and Governor Pritzker.

Voters, choose the person to lead Chicago who will put our safety first, who has the backbone to stand up to over-controlling teachers’ unions, who will allow our parents options that work best for their children’s education, who will take a firm hand on our budgets and taxes, and who will stand with the working men and women of Chicago.

Paul Vallas sees Chicago’s potential. Brandon Johnson only sees his own.

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Erin Geary is a writer, consultant, mother, wife, and volunteer. After thirty years of teaching, she left the profession to pursue her dream of writing. Her twice weekly articles on American culture and politics can be found at Commonfolk365.substack.com. She recently celebrated her first year writing and is thrilled to be a guest writer for John Kass. 

Comments 44

  1. Another brilliant study of the issue at hand, the April 4th election, by a woman whose full life of achievement stands as the litmus test for one of two ideologies – one rooted in 2,000 years of shared experiences, or one tethered to Marxism.

    Well, done Ms. Geary!

  2. One of the most well thought out essays that I have read in a long time and articulated in a manner that clearly identifies the issues at hand in the election.

    1. I hope that articulation will wake people up. Chicago is such a beautiful city, if only we can elect people with visions to change what is not working.

  3. You are a talented writer and a thoughtful person. I’m sure your grandfather would be proud. But don’t be naive.

    Is commonality a factor? Yes. Does race play a role? Certainly. Don’t let anyone tell you it doesn’t. Otherwise we would not have to mention it so often.

    Politicians and organizations such as CTU, and business, will play any angle they can to get elected, and you know it. Race, abortion, xenophobia, class, religion, sexuality, you name it, they’ll exploit it to their benefit.

    I have to give Vallas credit though, he’s not wandered into the trap they’ve set for him. He’s mostly sticking to his values as a Christian that say the downtrodden are also our brothers and need our help.

    Johnson has resorted to race baiting, false accusations, false promises and denial of the incompetence of fellow black pols who have run Cook County and the city into the ground.

    Many white folks voted for Obama twice. So we’re not anywhere near as racist as we used to be, but don’t say we don’t at least notice race, or an Irish lady name, or whatever.

    I’m colleges, you have the black student union, the Asian clubs, and religious groups. People feel more comfortable around those with which they share culture, traditions, language, commonalities.

    It’s ok. It’s ok to be human. Just like so many white boomers gave Barack Hussein Obama a chance, thousands of Black, Latino and Asian Chicagoans will give Vallas a chance. Just as thousands of liberals on the lakefront will vote for Brandon Johnson.

    Let’s acknowledge our humanity, our differences and our commonality. We all love our children, respect and value our elders, and went up live in peace. That trumps race, or at least it should.

    1. The funny thing is that my father is German and Irish. My mother was Czech and Polish. Basically I’m a mutt. She chose the name Erin because she liked it, and for years I was the only one with the name Erin in school. I married a Geary. I guess that makes me Irish by proxy.

      I understand the multiple neighborhood identifications. But your last comment is what I hope we are striving for–humanity and commonality even with our differences.

  4. How sad that the Politicians have told the Race to Vote only for Black Candidates whether they are good for them or not. People are naive to think the Black Race is been served by these so called Leaders. All these years, and they are still poor so many of them, uneducated, raised in Cabrini Green and Taylor Homes and told whom to Vote for and color is the only think that matters. Look how they kept the Black Race in these big Cities, poor and uneducated and feed them lies, so they can be powerful and dictate to them how to live, how to Vote, and look how awful the divisions they have caused for Power and money have hurt people. The Unions are dangerous in this day and age and it is all about Power and keep the kids uneducated and push Woke that does not help educate them or bring them into Society and honest, hard working folks. If Chicago loses the Election next week, if people do not wake up, you can kiss that once Beautiful City good bye. It will end up looking like Detroit and that is so sad. Save the children and teach them do not keep them barefoot and pregnant as they use to say. We are all God’s children, poor or rich. We are all going to face the Lord one of these days. We are in charge of our destiny not POLITICIANS. WAKE UP FOLKS. THE DEVIL IS TAKING OVER YOUR CHILDRENS LIVES.

  7. My grandfather was a college professor in Peru and he stressed the importance of education until the day he died. My grandparents even paid for the education of the children of their household help to make sure they had a better future. Without a good education we are doomed to fail.

  9. “I taught children in grades ranging from kindergarten through college within CPS, suburban public and suburban Catholic schools, and at St. Xavier University. I taught with and without unions and understand the pros and cons of each side of the coin.”

    Clearly, yours is of a time when when education was just that – not indoctrination, and most teachers were passionate about their profession – before organized labour co-opted it.

    While I hope to be proven wrong, I fear the grievance grifters, and the victim- and race-hustlers for Johnson will cheat better than those for Vallas.

    1. I’d have to say you make good points here. I believe we should be MOST concerned that teachers are teaching Math, language, and science skills, and NOT their own views about societal issues. Concrete skills first.

  11. The perfect column at the perfect time. Everything is on point.
    I’ll stick with my belief Vallas won’t win because he is the most obvious choice.

    The only thing I will disagree with is more from the comments than the excellent article itself.

    In general, unions are no longer powerful and in most cases are quite weak. In most cases (and I am a union member), Union leadership has become like politicians themselves in that it’s all about what’s in it for them, give in very easily with no fight and no backbone and don’t benefit their membership. Look at the recent railroad fiasco as an example. Yes, the law says the government can step in and force issues but it should never have got that far in the first place. If the Union was that strong, there would have been some type action after the government intervention. That is where the CTU is different and dangerous. They somehow have the power and manage to force their politics to dictate. I guess you could say there would be a lot of butt kissing in that relationship. Money talks and BS walks.

    Preckwinkle, Raoul, Evans, Sanders, and whether he admits or not Pritzker, back Johnson. That in itself is reason not to vote for him.

    Thank you Ms. Geary. You’re exactly correct.

    1. You are correct about unions themselves weakening over the years. The difference with the CTU is that they realize without having their own in jobs like Cook County Commissioner, they will have no say in city politics.

      If you haven’t watched the documentary Local 1 on YouTube, I high recommend it.

      1. I disagree. True, private sector unions are in decline. But the public sector unions are not. In fact they are in assent with five times the membership rate as their private sector peers. In fact the biggest and most powerful union today – as you are no doubt aware – is the NEA. And they have proven FDR’s original fears which he expressed over 80 years ago: they are at odds with their mission of public service. In fact in some cities (Chicago) and states (Illinois, California) they have effectively commandeered the government. Johnson’s likely Mayoral victory come April 4th, will offer further dramatic proof that such is the case. One can also make the argument that they have effectively commandeered the Democratic Party as well … not a surprise really since it was JFK’s executive order in 1962 permitting federal unions to collectively bargain that really set the ball in motion for what we have today.

        1. As always, your positions are well stated. I rarely look in nowadays. The refuse from TTT (the cockroach in a gas station urinal) continues pollute. It’s shocking that a felon identity thief like Rigatony, whose real name is Tony Cesare, is still allowed to pollute this site.

  12. Great assessment of the situation in Chicago. As a Chicago born and bred person myself, I agree this election is a no brainer for Chicago’s future. At the same time I’ve seen election after election where Chicago voters vote for candidates leaning on identity politics as their only criteria. They shoot themselves in the foot every time. Let’s hope voters consider quality and qualifications this time.

  13. Good morning John.

    I just heard on the News that Religion and Patriotism is on the skids. How can that be in the best Modern Country God ever created. Our young are told by Politicians they can be anything they want and some of them try to be different, think it is funny, well it is not. They find out it is not who they are and it is not what they want to be, and take it upon themselves to buy guns and innocent children and lives. Where are the Churches to speak about this, and where are the Parents. We failed our kids, they do not go to Church, any Church will do for me if they did and we have allowed Illegals to just walk in to our Country they do not want to be Americans, they just want the money and they certainly are not Voting or Patriotic. If they are Voting the Politicians tell them whom to Vote for. Is there anyone out there that can tell the truth and try and save this Country? Freedom is not Free and it is not about getting Rich.

    1. Without core values and American traditions, there will be nothing unifying us. I wish those who trash our country actually lived in another for at least a year. It would wake them up.

      1. Helen and Erin,

        For the majority of folks who whose patriotism is maybe waning a little, it isn’t due to “woke” ideology, drag queen story time, or CRT.

        It’s the endless wars, where 1/3 of our federal spending goes to fuel the war machine, how about the FBI, who while are now doing the bidding of the Democratic party, but for years previously harassed war protestors, civil rights leaders and honest, hardworking Italian people.

        Our government doesn’t represent us. But our nation isn’t at fault, nor is the US constitution. We need political reform, finance reform, and we need to rid DC of the lobbyists and their cash.

        This is a great nation founded on a great idea. Just as God is great. I need to keep reminding myself that God isnt bad, nor is our nation, it has been corrupted by the people. It’s time for the rest of us to take a stand and take back our nation so we can have free speech and freedom of worship, or not to worship as we please.

  14. Such a well-thought column and well-written. This is how I feel about the candidates too. There are givers and there are takers in our city and state. We are being overrun with takers as the givers are fleeing the city. Pick the wrong candidate and it will be disastrous for the taxpayers and residents.

  16. Excellent and thoughtful writing. I subscribed. I write at Substack as well, but just as a hobby and not as often as needed to become truly successful as a writer. I look forward to perusing your offerings. Thanks for pinch hitting for John as he recovers his health.

  17. Thank you for an excellent analysis. Liberalism and identity politics will doom the city. Many of us supported L2 including Mr Kass. We were hopeful that a new face would change things but unfortunately only made it worse. Johnson is the CTU puppet. It’s all about protecting jobs and a bloated admin structure, not what us right for the kids in CPS. Vallas is tough but very civic minded. He knows where the problems are in CPS. He will support law enforcement. The only way to have a civil safe living situations for everyone is to let police do their job. I’m so proud that the PO in Nashville taking the lead and heading right in was from Sauganash/QAS/Loyola Academy. I emigrated to Music City 5 years ago and could not be happier. L&O is expected here. We have a good department “Nashville’s Guardians” I can only hope and pray the voters vote for the city next week not identify (more of the same) politics.

  18. Great article Erin. Thoughtful and concise. Polls initially after the primary showed Vallas at 45 percent, Johnson at 39. Within days the race was even. The “polls” posted these numbers but which “polls”? Who conducted the “polls”? Chicago media never tells you who conducts the “polls”. I wonder why? If it is true that the race is dead even at 45 percent each with the remaining undecided, the undecided are the Latino voters. Younger latino voters have been indoctrinated in the ways of socialism by the CTUs curriculum and their votes have been weaponized. On yesterday’s news it was reported Chicago school students of voting age were given time off from school to go vote. I wonder who they were instructed to vote for? All is not lost though, Vallas needs to get their parents out to vote. Blue collar, older latino voters especially from the south side are tired from Lightfoots crime wave and won’t vote for Johnson. Garcia’s endorsement carries no weight in South Chicago . Latinos from the Pilson/ West side are also tired of having their elote vendors robbed from Lightfoots empowered criminals. If Vallas gets adult latino voters out he can win this race. Let’s hope for good weather on Tuesday.

  19. As another teacher & ‘mutt’ who also put himself through school and soon to retire after 30+ years with a desire to write, well done and good luck ahead.

  20. Spot on and wonderfully written. Unfortunately, those most in need of receiving your message do not have the bandwidth to absorb anything past a 30 second TV ad.

  22. “He countered, usually with a strong slap, saying that she needed to do her part by dropping out and getting a job.” That sounds terrible, and allot like abuse that would not be acceptable today. A perfect example of ‘the good old days weren’t always good..”

  23. Wondering if we’ve ever crossed paths. I came from a family like yours with Scotch-Irish dad and Bohemian mom in Back of the Yards. After many jobs I ended up in education but in administration… public and Catholic high schools and, yes, St. Xavier. Nothing in me, however, identifies in any way as male because I’m well versed in Irish stubbornness and Dominican critical thinking skills, which used to be a lot different. I refuse to be pegged by anyone based on stats since I was raised to be an individual.
    I know you’re right about the race baiting…it screams every time a TV ad comes on from the “real” Democrat preaching with a smile about “shady” Vallas. Any administrator who has been part of negotiating a faculty contract would never vote for an AFT/IFT member to be in charge of any other part of government in my experience. You’re guaranteed to see major shifts in budgets across the board…revenue and expenses! If Johnson hopefully loses I expect a similar reaction to Lightfoot’s — racism. That’s ridiculous since there have been more minority elected officials in recent years and still very little has changed. My hope is that this time voters turn out in record numbers rather than the paltry few who generally show up and help move Chicago back to center….not right or left. It’s time for pendulum to balance!

  25. Thankyou Erin for your insightful take on the current mayoral candidates. I’ve known Paul Vallas for years as a former south sider, and we went to the same Greek Church in Palos. He’s the only candidate that not only talks the talk, but actually walks the walk. He’s Chicago’s best and last hope to reverse Chicago’s slide into oblivion and become LA, Portland, SanFran, Seattle, NYC, etc. He may be a democrat, but he’s always had his head on straight, and stands for common sense, down to earth, values, mostly conservative, which speak to his success in turning around so many school systems. He knows budgets and the impact that current tax policies are having on the city, as people leave in droves for other states, or suburbs. We pray he makes it over top and can get to work in May to help us erase a most tragic 4 year reign of the failed, current mayor.

  27. “It’s as if Toni has been whispering in Brandon’s ear.”

    Whispering? Snapping out orders is more likely.

    I once voted for a candidate based on sex and race. I voted for Carol Braun for Senator for Illinois based on the fact that she would be the first black female Senator and I thought that was valuable. Then she turned out to be a lousy Senator and I vowed never to do that again. Which has not stopped me from voting for black candidates and for female candidates. Some have won. Some have lost. But I voted for them because I thought they were the best choice, not because I thought their sex or race deserved more representation or that it would somehow make them more effective.

    Ms. Braun and I are members of the same Christian denomination and I sometimes see her at the annual Diocesean Convention. She’s a nice lady and I wish her all the best. Being a bad Senator does not make you a bad person, or unsuited for some other profession or avocation.

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