Why a Mayoral Veto Would Be a Big Deal in Chicago

Will the debate over the ShotSpotter contract lead to Mayor Brandon Johnson using his first veto? The move hasn’t been used since 2006.

Alders voted 34–14 last week in an effort to save the controversial gunshot detection technology after Johnson said he plans to end the contract in the fall.

The mayor says City Council doesn’t have the power to overturn his decision, but he could still veto the measure. And that would be a big deal.

How Have Chicago Mayors Used Vetoes?

In theory, Chicago has a “weak mayor, strong council” system, where the power is supposed to be concentrated in City Council. But Chicago has famously operated as a “strong mayor, weak council” government.

That’s why the frequency of the mayoral veto use has largely depended on the dynamic between mayor and alders.

• Harold Washington relied on the veto often since the Vrdolyak 29, a mostly white council majority bloc, routinely stalled the mayor’s efforts.
• Richard M. Daley only used the veto once in his 22-year tenure when he blocked a wage increase at big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot.

What if Johnson Uses the Veto?

It’d be Johnson’s first mayoral veto and the first veto in almost 20 years. But two-thirds of the council could then overturn his veto, which would be another first. That means the 34 alders who approved the ShotSpotter ordinance could override a potential veto.