Mayoral Candidates State Their Case At Women's Forum

CHICAGO (CBS) -- More than 300 women packed the sanctuary at the Chicago Temple in the Loop. They were there to hear the candidates speak on everything from human trafficking to what a candidate would do with the Chicago Board of Education if they were elected.

Nearly each one opened up with how much they support women because of the strong women in their personal lives.

Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia credited his wife with for shaping his views.
"She has made me a feminist and very aware of chores around the house, getting rid of machismo," he said.

Meantime, Alderman Bob Fioretti brought up the point there should be more role models in the STEM field so young girls growing up can see a wider variety of career options ahead of them.
Mayor Emanuel says women's issues are family issues.

"I think women's issues are defined, and I think the president said it just the other day repeatedly, they are really family issues, not just women's issues because whether it is reproductive rights, domestic violence shelters, making sure work pays are a cross section of issues," Emanuel said.
After Garcia spoke, the number of women dwindled and didn't leave much of an audience for Willie Willilson and William "Doc" Walls.

The questions in the forum were collected online prior to the event. It was sponsored by Chicago Women Take Action.