Rahm Emanuel Stays on the Ballot for Chicago Mayoral Election

Filed under: News, Politics, President Obama

Rahm Emanuel is a contender in Chicago's contentious mayoral race. At least that is according to the Illinois State Supreme Court, which ruled today that his name should remain on the ballot for his Feb. 22 election bid to replace longtime, outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley.

The ruling comes a day after a surprise decision by an appellate court panel on Monday that determined Emanuel does not meet mandatory state residency requirements. His attorneys appealed the decision today and by late afternoon the State Supreme Court agreed to expedite the case. Justices, however, decided to only review legal briefs without conducting a hearing.

In the old-fashioned, Chicago election style brawl, the justices will consider overturning the appellate court's decision to remove Emanuel's name from the ballot because plaintiffs argued that he did not live in the city for a year before his mayoral campaign. While the case was expedited, there was no indication when the high court will hand down a ruling.

Emanuel's lawyers argued that he never lost residency. They called the decision by the appellate court "one of the most far-reaching election law rulings'' ever handed down in Illinois, not just because of its impact on the mayoral race but for "the unprecedented restriction'' it places on candidates, news reports say. The lawyers have argued that he was qualified to run under an area of the state's election code law, which grants residency status to servicemen and women who leave their home state to serve the country. Emanuel's lawyers reasoned that he moved to work as chief of staff for President Barack Obama, a federal position. The appellate court disagreed.

Needless to say Emanuel's camp eagerly awaits a decision and the stay came just in time. Emanuel was booted off the roster just as printing began today. The decision halted the elimination of his name from the ballot.

"I am clear that I think that we will succeed because of the thoroughness of our argument," Emanuel said earlier today at an event where he received an endorsement from the Teamsters, according to the Associated Press. He added that he was "more determined to see this through so the people have a right to make the choice for themselves."

The back-and-forth seemed to whipsaw Emanuel's competitors, who stepped up their battle to replace him as the leading contender. Many remained hopeful to prevail in the race. But so far, none compare to his fundraising dollars or poll numbers. Emanuel has a double-digit lead over any competitor and his campaign war chest is stuffed with more than $10 million. Competitors are: City Clerk Miguel del Valle, former Illinois State Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Gery Chico, Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins and William Walls.

"Now voters can see there's an opportunity to look at the field and give candidates either a second look or in some cases a first look,'' del Valle said, according to the AP. "People are going to pay more attention to the other candidates.''

 

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