Emanuel: 'Compelling' points made for ballot spot
Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said Monday that his lawyers made "compelling" points as they fought to keep him on the Feb. 22 ballot for Chicago mayor.
More than two dozen objectors have challenged Emanuel's candidacy and a Chicago Board of Election Commissioners hearing officer is expected to recommend this week whether Emanuel should be on or off the ballot. The board meets Thursday and could decide that day. Objectors say Emanuel doesn't have a legal right to run because he doesn't meet a one-year residency requirement to be on the ballot to replace retiring Mayor Richard Daley, who decided not to seek a seventh term. Until October, Emanuel lived for nearly two years in Washington.
"I believe that last week we presented what I think are compelling points," Emanuel said, repeating that he only gave up his congressional seat representing Chicago to go to Washington to work for President Barack Obama and always intended to come back.
He reiterated that his family continued to own a home in Chicago, pay property taxes and vote while they were away. Emanuel's comments came after an unrelated news conference in which he talked about instituting a wellness program to help the city save money on its health care costs.
Hearing officer Joseph Morris held a three-day marathon session last week to gather evidence on Emanuel's residency and will make a nonbinding recommendation to the election board. Attorneys on both sides submitted post-hearing briefs to Morris on Monday.
The election board, made up of two Democrats and one Republican, will decide whether Emanuel is on the ballot but that won't end the matter because the losing side is expected to appeal in court. Election officials are pushing to get the matter settled because they need to get the ballot printed.
More than a dozen candidates are running for mayor, including former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, former school board president Gery Chico, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, City Clerk Miguel del Valle and state Sen. James Meeks, the pastor of a South Side mega church.
"I believe the people of the city of Chicago deserve the right to make the choice of who they want to vote for for mayor," Emanuel said.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.