Moseley Braun enters Chicago mayoral race

CHICAGO, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun Saturday announced her candidacy for Chicago mayor, saying, "I just want to serve."

"Government is about the people's business, and my life's work has been dedicated to making government work for all of the people," Braun told a crowd of 200 supporters -- including U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., and state Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago -- gathered on the city's Northerly Island, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Braun took aim at the front-runner, former Obama administration Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, slamming his campaign ad that says Chicago must remain a "top-tier" city.

"Mr. Emanuel, your commercials pose a completely false choice. You may not understand it, but the challenge we face is not whether Chicago will be a second tier city, but whether our city will be great for all its citizens," Braun said during her announcement, promising to "publicly audit every city department for waste and abuse" and eliminate no-bid contracts, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"Our next mayor must be able to see the potential of all people, think outside the box, outside the Loop, and outside of an inner circle. All too often you have to know somebody who knows somebody to have a clue about where the money went. As mayor, I'll crack down on cronyism and help Chicago's small- and medium-sized businesses secure city contracts."

The deadline for prospective candidates to turn in the required 12,500 signatures is Monday; Moseley Braun said she has more than 91,000 signatures, WGN-TV reported.