The on again, off again candidacy of Rahm Emanuel in the City of Chicago Mayoral race is on again and for the last time for 2011. The Illinois Supreme Court has issued the final word on Rahm’s eligibility to run for office this time ’round and the word is that Rahm is in.
Rahm’s candidacy was challenged by Chicago attorney Burt Odelson over a stipulation in Chicago election law that states that a candidate must live in in the city for a year. Odelson pointed out that Emanuel has been living in Washington D.C. for the last two years and, therefore, did not satisfy the requirement.
Emanuel countered by reminding the court that he still owned a home in Chicago. Further Emanuel pointed out that he never changed either his voter registration or his driver’s license, both are still registered in Illinois. This, Emanuel claimed, proved that he considered himself a resident of Chicago.
Initially the Chicago Board of Elections and a lower court agreed with Emanuel. But earlier in the week an Appellate Court ruled that the two lower bodies were wrong. The Appellate Court threw Rahm off the ballot.
After this third ruling Emanuel appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court for a rush ruling. This final court sided with the first two rulings and stated in a unanimous decision that Emanuel does, indeed, qualify to be on the election ballot. In fact, the Ill. Supreme Court was so put off by the Appellate Court’s decision that a few of the justices issued a stern reply to the lower court’s ruling.
In short, the Supreme Court said the lower court’s decision was a “novel standard” without “any foundation in Illinois Law.”
Attorney Odelson said that this was the end of his case as far as he and his clients were concerned, so this decision ends the matter. Rahm Emanuel will appear on the Chicago election ballot on February 22. Early voting starts this coming Monday, so it was a timely decision for all concerned.
Of the whole episode, one of Emanuel’s opponents, Gery Chico, said “game on.” And it is, indeed, game on. Let the election games begin.
January 27th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Good grief, Chicagos hopeless.
Even the judges are on the take
January 27th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
and the dead fish continue to swim with the dalys…..
January 28th, 2011 at 3:52 am
Now it’s up to the people of Chicago to make the decision as it should be.
I know my father and grandfather, may they rest in peace, will probably both vote for him.
January 28th, 2011 at 5:13 am
Flying –
It is up to the people to decide only if the person running meets all of the requirements to run. That is the same for any office. I understand that when you are in the military, and get stationed OCONUS, that you maintain your residency where you live in the states. I personally do not see how you can live in another state for two years and still be considered a resident of a different state/City. Yes you can have a job that requires extensive travel but you still return home. To equate Emanuel’s work as COS to Obama as the same as our men and women serving in the military is ludicrous. He chose to go to Washington. He chose to rent his house out. Did he intend to return to Chicago? I am sure he did but that does not make him a resident while he was away.
The State Supreme court made their decision based upon his intent to return. I do not agree with that but the ruling is what it is.
January 28th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Illinois politics is so corrupt. The whole state needs an enema.
January 29th, 2011 at 12:10 am
Rowdym:
“It is up to the people to decide only if the person running meets all of the requirements to run.”
Ha, ha, ha. Silly man, This is Illinois we’re talking about and it doesn’t matter what the rules are.
Case in point. After the November elections a state rep immediately resigned his seat after losing. The new rep refused to be sworn in until the proper time. So they filled the seat with an appointee who was told how to vote and then passed a 66% income tax increase with no votes to spare during the lame duck session. Get it? A 66% tax increase was passed using a non-elected shill as the deciding vote.
THERE ARE NO RULES!!!
January 29th, 2011 at 12:22 am
“Illinois politics is so corrupt. The whole state needs an enema.”
Yes Andy, and the tube needes to be inserted at 121 N. LaSalle St. in Chicago.
January 29th, 2011 at 4:32 am
FM,
I am aware of that I live in the burbs of Chicago. I also know about the new item on the state income tax return. Tell us how much money you spent on the internet and did not pay taxes on. Then pay 6.25% of that money to us. And, they are nice enough to give you a table of estimated amounts based on your income.
I think Emanuel is now a shoe in. He probably will make it on the 1st ballot. The question is does his close ties to Obama help or hurt the City?
January 29th, 2011 at 4:46 am
Ask yourself if Obama helps or hurts the country as a whole and you answer own question.
And here’s a bit of unsolicited advice. Get the %#&* out of Illinois.