Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas threw his hat into the race for mayor of the City of Chicago in an announcement on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at New Star Lighting in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood.
"I'm ready to deliver," Cardenas said at the event, which included plaudits and testimonials from residents, family and business leaders attending in support of his campaign.
Cardenas spoke of nuts-and-bolts fiscal governance as one area where he'd stand apart as mayor, pointing to his business and military experience and his multiple terms on the Chicago City Council as 12th Ward alderman.
Spending Growth
Chicago mayoral candidate George Cardenas speaks to supporters at his campaign announcement on June 16, 2026."When fiscal controls are weak, neighborhoods suffer," Cardenas said.
His campaign's exploratory committee found serious problems with City of Chicago finances, Cardenas said, including spending growth twice that of inflation.
TIF Reform
"There's massive volume, but little accountability," Cardenas said.
In addition to adding transparency and accountability to Chicago finances, Cardenas said his administration would reform Chicago's Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) system.
Youth Hopelessness
Another plank of Cardenas' campaign is his Parenting Matters program, he said, which includes city-funded youth engagement and employment opportunities coordinated with beneficiaries' parents.
"We cannot police our way out of youth hopelessness," Cardenas said, recalling his history as a naturalized immigrant growing up and going to school in Chicago alongside his family.
Grow to Prosperity
"I know what Chicago families are going through," he said.
Cardenas also spoke to a focus on growth as the number one way to improve Chicago. "You must grow your way to prosperity," he said.
"Businesses are looking for certainty," said John Peña, president and co-owner of New Star Lighting and the host for the campaign announcement.
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