I just keep wondering who’s going to “fix” Rahm’s residency problem, and how. This challenge to Emanuel’s mayoral candidacy was filed on Friday, the Sun-Times reports. And Burt Odelson, the attorney making the challenge, wants it expedited because he expects it to reach the state Supreme Court.
Rahm Emanuel doesn’t meet residency requirements and therefore can’t legally run for mayor, says a Chicago attorney who specializes in election law and who filed a challenge to Emanuel’s mayoral bid Friday.
Burt Odelson, who is representing two city residents in making the challenge before the Chicago Board of Elections, alleges President Obama’s former chief of staff has run afoul of Illinois Municipal Code.
State law requires mayoral candidates to be city residents for a year before an election, he said. The only exception is for active-duty members of the military.
“Emanuel was not a resident under the state statutes for one year prior to the election — the election being Feb. 22 [of next year]. He would have had to have had a residence since Feb. 22 of 2010,” Odelson said while delivering the challenge Friday.
Emanuel moved his family to Washington D.C. — and rented out his house — while he served in the White House the past two years. By doing so, Rahm gave up his residency, Odelson said.
Burt Odelson, who is representing two city residents in making the challenge before the Chicago Board of Elections, alleges President Obama’s former chief of staff has run afoul of Illinois Municipal Code.
State law requires mayoral candidates to be city residents for a year before an election, he said. The only exception is for active-duty members of the military.
“Emanuel was not a resident under the state statutes for one year prior to the election — the election being Feb. 22 [of next year]. He would have had to have had a residence since Feb. 22 of 2010,” Odelson said while delivering the challenge Friday.
Emanuel moved his family to Washington D.C. — and rented out his house — while he served in the White House the past two years. By doing so, Rahm gave up his residency, Odelson said.
Emanuel has said repeatedly that he never intended to give up residency, but Odelson says there is no room in the law for such an exception:
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