State representative wants dad’s City Council seat

The daughter of a retiring Chicago alderman says she will apply for the soon-to-be-vacated seat currently held by her father, Richard Mell.

Democratic State Rep. Deborah Mell tells WMAQ-TV (http://bit.ly/1bjnMfV) she will have a strong application for the post, which will become vacant July 24.

Under a Chicago ordinance, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will decide who will succeed Richard Mell, who handed in his resignation after nearly 40 years in the job.

The elder Mell says Emanuel will “make a decision based on what he thinks is right.” He says there is “no understanding” between himself and the mayor that his daughter will get the job.

Deborah Mell says a downside of taking a City Council seat would be her inability to vote for an Illinois same sex marriage bill.”