Chicago Teachers Union to register voters

The Chicago Teachers Union says it is launching a voter-registration drive in the hopes of ousting Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Union President Karen Lewis has battled Emanuel during a teachers strike and over a plan to close more than 50 public schools to save money.

Lewis said Monday that not only will the union and its allies register voters, they will also train possible candidates for mayor, alderman and state legislators.

The board of education, whose members are selected by the mayor, will vote on the proposed school closings on May 22. Emanuel has said he’s 100 percent in support of the 54 proposed closings.

Emanuel spokesman Sarah Hamilton told the Chicago Sun-Times now is not the time for politics.