First, Rahm Emanuel was eligible to run for Mayor of Chicago. But now it appears he is not.
So says the Illinois Appellate Court, which decided yesterday to revoke eligibility from Emanuel, effectively removing him from the February 22nd election. Now lawyers for Emanuel have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to stay that ruling while they prepare an appeal to make certain the former White House Chief of Staff makes it onto the mayoral ballot as planned.
In typical Chicago-style politics, several Emanuel opponents have aggressively pressed the issue that Emanuel has not properly met the one-year residency requirement to run for mayor, since he has been living in Washington, DC while working at the White House. But Emanuel’s attorneys argue that he has always been an official resident of Chicago, has maintained a home there, has always voted locally, and for the past several years has only been in service to his country, similar to members of the military who must travel away for work.
Who’s right?
From the minute I heard this story yesterday afternoon it just didn't seem *real* to me, as in somebody's playing Chicago Hardball with Rahm. But if they thought that he was simply going to gather his marbles and go away they are Nuts! He ain't leaving, NOT without a fight anyway.As of this afternoon the Chicago Sun Times is reporting that the Illinois Supreme Court will hear Rahm's case. In the meantime the court ordered that his name be placed BACK on the ballot. Chicago Sun Times:The Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to hear the appeal of a court decision that knocked Rahm Emanuel out of the mayoral race.The Supreme Court said it will not accept any new legal briefs or even hear oral arguments on the case. Instead, the court will rely on the briefs already filed.In its earlier ruling Tuesday, the court granted Emanuel’s motion to suspend enforcement of the appellate court ruling.http://www.suntimes.com/3483600-417/emanuel-court…