Jesse Jackson Jr. may run for mayor (of Chicago)

[deadparrot]

CHICAGO - Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. announced Wednesday that he is exploring a run for mayor of Chicago and said it is "more likely than not" that he will enter the February contest.

While he complimented Mayor Richard Daley, a fellow Democrat, for doing an "extraordinary" job in some ways, Jackson said: "What I'm hearing from the people is that it's time for a change."

The 41-year-old son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson said he would make up his mind after the November congressional election. He is up for re-election to the seat he has held for 11 years.

Daley is seen by some as politically vulnerable because of federal investigations into allegations of illegal political patronage and payoffs at City Hall. The mayor, who was first elected in 1989, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060907/ap_on_el_st_lo/chicago_mayor

[Tom Joad]

1. Daley's got to go.

[davidinalameda]

3. why

[kysrsoze]

6. Because he's the dirtiest Dem I've seen

Yes, the city looks beautiful, but the schools are a disaster, Millenium Park cost 3X initial estimates, many people close to Daley have been CONVICTED of hiring scandals and city labor is completely controlled by the mayor's office. they OWN city labor, who spend their time campaigning for the mayor. Although people have moved to the city in droves, taxes continue to go up, while police seem to have more time to give parking tickets and tickets for no front plate on cars than they do fighting crime. We have lots of new Segways to give parking tickets, when the money could be spent on more general law enforcement.

[JI7]

2. is it possible to beat Daley ?

even if more people vote for JAckson ?

[Robbien]

4. No

We will re-elect Daley. I can't fathom Chicago going any other way.

[Hawkowl]

5. Daley is untouchable

There is no way Daley will lose. He has run the city well, i.e; picked up the trash, paved the streets, taken control of the schools, etc.

Chicagoans are practical people and do not vote change for changes sake when everything is running fairly smoothly. Speaking as a former Chicagoan and former city employee under the late great Mayor Washington.

[kysrsoze]

7. Taken control of the schools?

Chicago schools have plummeted in education quality. Check recent school performance. I have a daughter going to public schools and if she weren't at one of the highest levels in the school system, she would be doomed to go to one of the myriad horrible schools. Chicago has dozens of schools which average less than 20% students meeting the national norm for mathematics and English. Look it up on the CPS website. It's absolutely true.