Lori Lightfoot, Chicago's first black woman and openly gay mayor, has become the first leader of the huge Midwestern city in 40 years not to win re-election, US media reported.
Ms Lightfoot, criticised by rivals for the rising crime rates in the city, conceded Tuesday's surprise defeat, telling supporters she was “rooting and praying for our next mayor to deliver for the people of the city for years to come”.
Paul Vallas, a former chief executive of Chicago public schools, will now face Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner and former teacher, in a second round on April 4, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Mr Vallas is backed by the local police union, while Mr Johnson has the support of the Chicago teachers' union.
Ms Lightfoot's defeat was a shock in the country's third-largest city, which has for decades returned mayors to power. She won every ward in the city in 2019, but the rising crime rates and the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic shook her support.
“We know in life, in the end, you don't always win the battle. But you never regret taking on the powerful, and bringing in the light,” she told a crowd of supporters.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
