Sweet Home Chicago
Or not. With only four weeks until Chicago’s mayoral election, and with former Team BO chief of staff Rahm Emanuel holding a big lead in most polls, an appellate court panel ruled today that Emanuel’s name should be yanked from the ballot because he did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.
The ruling overturns a previous decision by the Chicago Board of Elections and a Cook County judge, which cleared Emanuel’s run. This from the Chicago Sun-Times:
Rahm Emanuel was thrown off the ballot for mayor of Chicago Monday by an appellate court panel, a stunning blow to the fund-raising leader in the race.
An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.
Appellate justices Thomas Hoffman and Shelvin Louise Marie Hall ruled against Emanuel. Justice Bertina Lampkin voted in favor of keeping President Obama’s former chief of staff on the Feb. 22 ballot.
Emanuel, speaking to reporters at The Berghoff in the Loop, said he is confident he will win an appeal and return to the ballot.
“I have no doubt at the end we will prevail,” Emanuel said. “As my father has said, nothing is ever easy.”
Emanuel is expected to appeal the case to the Illinois Supreme Court, so I guess we’ll see just how truly deep and wide dirty politics runs in Chicago – or not. I mean, Emanuel lived in D.C. for nearly two years, before abruptly pulling up stakes to return to the Windy City when it became apparent there was a chance to run for mayor and win.
Maybe it’s time for Rahm to dial up the legal team of Vilma Leake, who pulled enough strings and bent enough rules to beat a residency rap when she was a member of the school board.
Take it away Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy:
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