Vallas for Mayor...

Mayor Daley's former CPS CEO and Lt. Gov. running mate with Gov. Pat Quinn in 2014 and most recently involved with Chicago State University where the CSU cut ties. Wednesday it was in the news that he's throwing his hat in the ring to run for mayor in 2019.

Vallas joins Mayor Emanuel's former police superintendent Garry McCarthy in the 5th floor sweepstakes. The Sun-Times has the exclusive.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘He’s in it to win’: Paul Vallas joins mayoral race, @Sneedlings writes. https://t.co/bvGdb1R29z

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) March 28, 2018

Vallas, who is calling his campaign “Paul Vallas for Chicago,” now joins a contentious list of candidates — including Chicago’s former top cop Garry McCarthy — hoping to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“The filing will include a list of Vallas’ mayoral campaign officials,” said Odelson, which includes retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Johnson as chairperson of Vallas’ campaign and Dean Vallas, Paul’s brother, who will be treasurer of the campaign committee,” said Odelson, who was the election lawyer for Richard M. Daley during his successful first bid for mayor.

“I believe Paul can find the solutions to help Chicago’s crime, budget and school problems without the gross involvement of politics,” said Odelson.

“We may be coming to a time when many progressive groups come together and do the right thing,” he added. “I’m going to invest myself in Paul and help him through this process of getting on the ballot; winning outright in February or getting into the runoff.”

Sneed hears Vallas — who was invited weeks ago by mayoral hopeful McCarthy to a hush-hush sit-down to discuss their mutual enmity of Emanuel — has also conferred with McDonald’s franchise millionaire Willie Wilson.

Hmmm, so potential mayoral contenders conferring to defeat Emanuel. The plot begins the thicken!