>>> EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND JUST ONE HOUR.

THAT LEFT PLENTY OF QUESTIONS WE COULDN'T GET TO DURING OUR MAYORAL FORM ON TUESDAY.

ONE IN PARTICULAR, THE CANDIDATES PLANS FOR ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING WHETHER THEY WOULD REVIVE THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER ASKED THE CANDIDATES ABOUT THIS QUESTION.

AND PATTY, FIRST, REMIND US OF THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND WHY IT WAS DISBANDED, AND WHY PROPONENTS WANT IT BACK?

>> Reporter: RIGHT, SO IT WAS THE SECOND, MAYOR DALEY, THE JUNIOR WHO CREATED THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

THEN IT WAS MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL IN 2011 WHO DISBANDED IT.

HIS REASONING AT THE TIME WAS THAT IT WOULD BE COST SAVING TO MOVE THE PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AROUND INTO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

THAT WAY YOU WOULD INFUSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS INTO EVERY DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS THE REASONING AT THE TIME.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BRING THE DEPARTMENT BACK SAY WHAT IT REALLY DID WAS IT LEFT NO ONE -- NO SINGLE ENTITY, LASER FOCUSED ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU LOST A LOT OF STAFF.

YOU LOST A LOT OF EXPERTISE.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO TO GO TO FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHEN IT IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> SO YOU WERE ABLE TO ASK THE CANDIDATES AFTER OUR MAYORAL FORM EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT WHETHER THEY WOULD BRING THAT DEPARTMENT BACK.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> THEY ALL SAID YES, WHICH IS WHAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING.

INSTEAD SHE CREATED A CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, AND NOW SHE HAS A CLIMATE EQUITY, NOT THE SAME AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

SO YES, PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY WILL BRING IT BACK, BUT WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT FULLY FUND AND FULLY STAFF IT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THAT ACTUALLY SHAKES OUT.

>> PATTY, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THOUGH BETWEEN HAVING A DEPARTMENT VERSES AN OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY THAT WE COULDN'TLY HAVE?

>> Reporter: I MEAN IT'S STAFF, IT'S POWER, IT'S BUDGET.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND EQUITY LESS THAN $1 MILLION BUDGE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S LARGEST DEPARTMENTS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW IMPORTANT THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WHETHER IT'S LEAD LINES, URBAN STREET CANOPIES, LAKE FRONT EROSION.

ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT TOPICS, SHOULD THEY BE BUNDLED UP TO THE LEVEL OF HAVING A COMMISSIONER WITH A SEAT AT THE MAIN TABLE?

NOT SAYING THE CLIMATE AND EQUITY DOESN'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT IT SEEKS TO THE PRIORITIES THEY HAVE AND THE AUTHORITY.

>> YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAYOR BARRIERS IN THE CITY?

ULTIMATELY BEING ABLE TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHO THE NEXT MAYOR IS, WHAT CITY COUNCIL IS LIKE, AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THE MONEY TO FUND THIS DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU RECREATE IT, YOU WANT TO PUT DOLLARS BEHIND IT.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?

ARE THEY GOING TO BACK IT UP?

>> YES, LIKE THEY SAY, SHOW ME YOUR BUDGET.

SHOW ME THE MONEY.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

THANK YOU SO