Rahm Emanuel Fails Residency Rules: Off Chicago Mayor Ballot

by NowPublic Staff | January 24, 2011 at 10:26 am

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Rahm Emanuel For Mayor Of Chicago: Not Yet - Illinois Appellate Court Rejects Rahm Emanuel Name On Ballot For Chicago Mayor

In a surprising turn of events, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's bid to be Chicago Mayor has ground to a halt, at least for now. An Illinois appellate courts has ruled that Rahm Emanuel does not meet the residency requirements of Chciago, and therefore can not run for mayor of Chicago.

An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.

Appellate judges 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.

“It’s a surprise,” said Kevin Forde, the attorney who argued on Emanuel’s behalf.

The residency issue for Rahm Emmanuel has been a thorn in the side of the Emanuel campaign and now it threatens his entire campaign for mayor of Chicago.

Because Emanuel was living in Washington serving under the Obama administration, renting his Chicago home there were questions whether he passed the Chicago residency rules required for mayoralty candidates.

There is still a matter of appeal and since it was 2-1 decision there may well be grounds for appeal.