Rahm Kicked off Chicago Ballot

[jsteele]

Rahm Emanuel has been kicked off the Chicago mayoral ballot by a three-judge appellate court:

http://www.suntimes.com/3469419-417/ballot-booted-court-emanuel-rahm.html

[Anonymous]

But he'll appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, so nobody knows whether he will end up on the ballot. He's Mr. Rahm on 'n' off.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I like the guy, but it seems screwy that someone gets asked to work in the White House, and as a result he loses his residency. Especially strange is that the decision appears to turn not based on whether he actually was in the city for X days, but whether or not his residence was rented out. Apparently, if he left it unrented, he would be fine - even though his days in town would be exactly the same.

I heard this happen to a friend of a friend, who worked hard for his state here in DC, went to run for office and was declared ineligible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I like the guy, but it seems screwy that someone gets asked to work in the White House, and as a result he loses his residency. Especially strange is that the decision appears to turn not based on whether he actually was in the city for X days, but whether or not his residence was rented out. Apparently, if he left it unrented, he would be fine - even though his days in town would be exactly the same.

I heard this happen to a friend of a friend, who worked hard for his state here in DC, went to run for office and was declared ineligible.

Unfortunately, there is no law that the law has to make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I like the guy, but it seems screwy that someone gets asked to work in the White House, and as a result he loses his residency. Especially strange is that the decision appears to turn not based on whether he actually was in the city for X days, but whether or not his residence was rented out. Apparently, if he left it unrented, he would be fine - even though his days in town would be exactly the same.

I heard this happen to a friend of a friend, who worked hard for his state here in DC, went to run for office and was declared ineligible.

You could say the idea behind the law is dumb, but I'm not sure being part of the WH should matter one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I like the guy, but it seems screwy that someone gets asked to work in the White House, and as a result he loses his residency. Especially strange is that the decision appears to turn not based on whether he actually was in the city for X days, but whether or not his residence was rented out. Apparently, if he left it unrented, he would be fine - even though his days in town would be exactly the same.

I heard this happen to a friend of a friend, who worked hard for his state here in DC, went to run for office and was declared ineligible.

You could say the idea behind the law is dumb, but I'm not sure being part of the WH should matter one way or the other.

Well if you are in the military, you do not lose your residency just because you deploy. And I think you can rent out your home, although perhaps this varies from city to city.

[Anonymous]

But if he prevails on appeal then any Chicago homeowner who took a job outside of Chicago could run whenever he/she felt like it, correct? I don't see him winning this appeal, I was surprised he wasn't kicked off earlier. (Not because of what I think of the law, but because of how I understand the law.)

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:But if he prevails on appeal then any Chicago homeowner who took a job outside of Chicago could run whenever he/she felt like it, correct? I don't see him winning this appeal, I was surprised he wasn't kicked off earlier. (Not because of what I think of the law, but because of how I understand the law.)

Not any job. You have to be in the service of the federal or state governments. The issues comes down to how you define "resident". The ruling could be overturned, but maybe too late.

[jsteele]

Well, so much for that. The Illinois Supreme Court just put him back on the ballot.

[Anonymous]

Jeff,
Are you from Chicago?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff,
Are you from Chicago?

Rockford. It's about 90 miles northwest of Chicago.