Michael Diaz, l., and John Arena, r. View Full Caption Submitted photos

JEFFERSON PARK — An attorney with ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel who plans to challenge Ald. John Arena (45th) in February's election blasted the alderman for casting one of four votes against the mayor's 2015 budget.

Although Michael Diaz has yet to file his nominating petitions with city election officials, he criticized Arena in a statement late Wednesday for voting against Emanuel's budget, which included a plan to expand the city's pre-kindergarten programs to 2,600 children in low-income communities.

“I'm shocked by Ald. Arena's failure to support Chicago's children by voting against expanded access to pre-kindergarten," Diaz said. "When it comes to promoting education, political differences should be put aside."

Diaz will not be available for media interviews until after Monday, the last day of the nominating period, when he plans to file his petitions, said Tim Nazanin, Diaz' spokesman. Diaz has not created a campaign committee with the state, records show.

Arena is one of the most frequent critics of Emanuel on the council.

During a speech during the budget debate, Arena said he could not support Emanuel's budget because it did not include money to hire enough police officers to meet the needs of the Old Irving Park, Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Gladstone Park and Forest Glen residents in the 45th Ward.

In addition, the budget did not do enough to reform the city's use of Tax Increment Financing districts to spur redevelopment in blighted areas, Arena said.

While the alderman supports expanding early childhood education, he did not support Emanuel's plan to borrow $17 million to expand the city's half-day Child-Parent Center preschool program, said Dave Miranda, a spokesman for Arena.

Because the city has agreed to pay a higher-than-normal interest rate because the bonds are considered to be high risk, taxpayers will see "no real savings," Miranda said.

"Ald. Arena wants to do what's best for taxpayers, not for the financial services industry," Miranda said.

Diaz' statement makes it clear that he is "the mayor's guy" relying on the mayor's political operation to launch and operate his campaign "out of a box," Miranda said.

"He's just one of those guys who just wants to be an alderman," Miranda said.

Diaz' statement did not mention the other two candidates in the 45th Ward race, Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido, who finished second in the 2011 aldermanic race; and Michelle Baert, who publishes a website and Facebook page filled with listings for family-friendly activities as the 45th Ward Mom.