the City Colleges of Chicago and the board elected Chico chairman. Along with Chancellor Cheryl Hyman, Chico reformed the City Colleges budget by laying off 225 employees, removing unfilled jobs, and reducing executive spending to increase spending on technology and training for students. Furthermore, Chico and Hyman reduced taxation on property for two straight years, and cancelled nursing programs. He resigned 8 months later to run for Mayor of Chicago. 2011 campaign for Mayor of Chicago On September 27, 2010, Chico announced that he would run for mayor of Chicago in 2011. He was one of six candidates on the ballot. Rahm Emanuel was considered to be the leading candidate before the election. Chico was considered "the rival with the best chance of forcing him into a runoff". Chico positioned himself as a business candidate with a latino identity. He sought to portray himself as a candidate who understood the city better than frontrunner Rahm Emanuel. He touted his experience, particularly his tenure as president of the school board. Chico advertised his latino background, his identity as the son of an immigrant father, his education in the Chicago Public Schools system. He also contrasted his South Side upbringing to Emanuel's upbringing in the suburban North Shore. In seeking the hispanic vote, he proved to have a lead over the race's other hispanic candidate, Miguel del Valle. Chico received significant support from the city's hispanic community, even receiving endorsements from leading members such as congressman Luis Gutierrez. Chico raised nearly $4.4 million in campaign funds. This was the second-greatest amount any candidate raised, however it was still only less than one-third of the $15 million in campaign funds that Emanuel was able to procure. Chico received most of his money from personal and corporate donations. However, he also had the greatest union support financial contribution to his campaign committee of any candidate, receiving $188,000 from municipal unions, including the Chicago Firefighters Union and the Fraternal Order of Police. Chico was backed by many of the city's establishment Democrats, such as alderman Edward M. Burke. In regards to schools, Chico wanted to negotiate with the Chicago Teachers Union for both a lengthened school day and school year. He opposed an elected school board. He touted his experience leading the school board as qualifications which made him the best fit candidate to address problems with the Chicago Public Schools. Chico pledged to hire