When will Daley retire? Who will run? Who will win?

[Tweed]

I found a great political columnist that everyone on DU should read. His name is Russ Stewart and he has an in-depth column on Chicago & Illinois politics every Wednesday. I've found his columns to be informative and more in-depth than any other source out there. He seems to favor Republicans a tad bit, but he doesn't let that get in the way of his overall analysis.
Anyway, I found this one article he wrote on September 22nd, 2004 titled: "Black Mayor Unlikely in Chicago's Future". The article pits New York City against Chicago in terms of its mayoral races and adds a little history of each. I was proud to learn that a Democrat has won the race for mayor 18 times in a row and a Republican hasn't been mayor since 1927. What I'm more intrigued by though is the rumor that Daley might retire in '07 and who would run if he did. he covers this briefly, and only mentions Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown. Would Congressman Gutierrez from the 4th district run as well? Any other Congressman? City Councilmen? What conservatives would run for mayor? What Democrat would win in the end?

[baldingrockwarlord]

1. another Daley....

After Richie Daley's son comes back labled as a war hero for enlisting and serving, he will run and take his fathers place. That's my gut feeling.

[murielm99]

2. There might be an interregnum.

It happened before.

[Tweed]

3. Mayor Daley's son will only be 31 in 2007

and he might even be under obligation to still be serving in the army. This Daley did not run right after his father and I don't think that we will see army Daley run until he's at least 40. He will have to acquire some business experience or some political experience before the city of Chicago would elect him for sure.

[sjgman9]

10. About Richie's kid....

Major Brat. Loads of problems in his past. THe crazy party at the summer house in Michigan, stuff like that.

The army service is meant to clean his image.

Trust me, Kevin, if that's his name, will run when he's back.

[renaissanceguy]

4. If Daley is stepping down in '07

is he considering running for president in '08? I remember reading somewhere that he is considering it.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14741250

[Tweed]

5. That would be kick ass!

I bet Daley has a lot of skeletons in his closet though...

[sjgman9]

11. Daley run for prez.... uh, no that wont happen

all the scandals that we think are funny here in chicago would get ripped apart in the rest of the country. he wouldnt last.

[mopinko]

6. there are more pugs here than you might think

i was shocked to find that something like 1/3 of donations to the pres race this year were to bush. i would not be surprised if keyes ran. or at least if he was a part of the campaign. he is allegedly staying here, and i'm sure that whatever psychopaths brought him here have a long term plan.
i predict a serious challenger, ritchie or no. i'll be shocked if he retries, tho. i think he will die with his boots on like pops.

[Tweed]

9. Bush got 25% of the vote or something?

So the 33% of donations to 25% of the votes isn't that much of a difference especially when you consider all the wealthy real estate areas in Chicago. But yeah, there should be 0% Republicans in Chicago. Okay, maybe 5% so we can keep some people around to laugh at.

[Rican1]

7. I'd draft

Manny Flores. He's just getting started as Alderman of the 1st Ward, but seems to be the real deal. I would love to see Daley step down. His administration (which I will always take over a republican one) is full of corruption.

[mopinko]

8. he is a good guy

you can't have him! he is not my alderman, but a non-profit that i am involved with is in his ward. he and his wife have been very helpful to us.
i think ritchie needs some real opposition.

[barb162]

12. okay tweed, you pulled me off that forum on WI cops and drivers

I hope Daley doesn't retire, altho I no longer live in Chicago. He does a lot of wrong things (wish he'd take care of streets other than in the downtown area for example) but then he does Millenium Park, a work of geniuses. I can't imagine anyone else holding the city together right now or a person who can get things done omn the scale he can.

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Jesse Jackson Jr. may be gearing up to run...

at least that was the interpretation of one journalist (not a pundit) that I heard recently. He based this on one of Jackson's recent statements in the words he (Jackson) used to criticize the management of the city. :shrug:

[Tweed]

14. I don't think that Jesse Jackson, Jr. has a chance

He's a very polarizing character. I don't know a lot of North Siders who like him. Even if he got enough votes to get into a run-off with one other candidate, that candidate would clobber him. African-Americans only make up 30% of the population of the city.