Chicago opportunity???... Mayor not to run for reelection...

[whipped guy]

Chicago's Mayor Daley announced that he would not be running for reelection... could perhaps Chicago's newest resident now get into the race?

 

My guess is that like the conquering Roman Emperors of old he would win in a landslide!

 

Hopefully this will not be moved to the Politics Forum...

[KMEM]

In view of your stated hope I won't make a political comment and only say good riddance. However, I will believe it improves things when I see it.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[orbital sander]

I would hope that Chicago's newest resident would have more brains than to get into politics, especially in Chicago...

[leigh.bess.toad]

Chicago's Mayor Daley announced that he would not be running for reelection... could perhaps Chicago's newest resident now get into the race?

 

My guess is that like the conquering Roman Emperors of old he would win in a landslide!

 

Hopefully this will not be moved to the Politics Forum...

 

Hey WG -- should that be spelled Holy Romann Emperors???

[Diverdan]

As a former Chicago resident, I am sad to see him retire. In spite of some of the graft, corruption and other issues, he runs a tight ship, has made incredible improvements in the city and it functions probably better than any other major city in the USA. He never has known how to get rid of the folks who took advantage of him, and has a deep seated loyalty to friends, which has also gotten him into a lot of trouble. I know that this reply probably belongs in the Political Section, but I for one will miss him. Chicago politics may never be the same again. I give him a lot of credit for stepping down now to devote more time to his wife and family. Mrs. Daley has been battling cancer for many years and was recently readmitted for additional treatment. One of his sons is currently serving in the military (Army, I believe) and has been in harms way many times. I like the suggestion of Romann taking over, but he may not have been a resident long enough... but he certainly has ample qualifications..... :-)

[+ deej]

Another things that often gets lost is that Mayor Daley was very pro-gay since before it was cool. He considers gays good for neighborhoods. (We do tend to clean them up and redecorate. )

 

He is a friend to us, and I'm sad to see him go.

 

In my lifetime Chicago has elected exactly two mayors that weren't named Daley. It's the end of an era.

[JT Brooklyn]

Another things that often gets lost is that Mayor Daley was very pro-gay since before it was cool. He considers gays good for neighborhoods. (We do tend to clean them up and redecorate. )

 

He is a friend to us, and I'm sad to see him go.

 

In my lifetime Chicago has elected exactly two mayors that weren't named Daley. It's the end of an era.

 

Totally Agree His Pro Gay Attitude has always helped !

[KMEM]

For whatever it is worth, my personal experience with Mayor Daley includes the following: My clients often used Meigs Airport (CGX) because it was very convenient to downtown Chicago. It also was not as busy as ORD or MDW (O'Hare and Midway). Then, in what was clearly a personal and political vendetta, Daley sneaked some construction equipment onto this airport in the dead of night and destroyed the runway. There were several aircraft there at the time. Not very nice. The FAA protested (along with the rest of us in aviation) and won a monetary concession for closing an airport with a contract still in existence with the FAA. Of course, Daley didn't care. He got his wishes and the money expended was public money, not his.

 

I wrote Daley a personal letter regarding this. One of his staff sent me a reply that was basically just go away, we don't care.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Epigonos]

This should probably be in the political forum but I am going to go ahead here anyway. However, much one might dislike the Daley’s (father and son) politically there is absolutely NO WAY that one can deny the FACT that downtown Chicago is the vibrant going concern that it is today because they maintained its infrastructure. They were also both very pro-business and were able to keep major businesses in the city. As comparison one only need look at cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo. It is true that both father and son tended to turn a blind eye to the corruption of some of their close allies even though neither was corrupt personally. CHICAGO WILL MISS JR.

[whipped guy]

I didn't expect such serious responses...

 

Hey WG -- should that be spelled Holy Romann Emperors???

Actually I wanted to leave something to the imagination!!! However, I know what you mean...

 

This should probably be in the political forum...

It was emphatically not my intention to start anything political and especially since I abhor such forums and especially since I come here to escape such talk!

 

However, I guess the fine Mayor of Chicago is as bit more controversial than I had realized. I was simply having some fun... but heck if we all vote "often and early" perhaps we can pull off this Romanesque conqust... or should that be spelled Romannesque...

[instudiocity]

Hey WG -- should that be spelled Holy Romann Emperors???

 

Holy or holie? or holee? or WHOLEY?

[NYTomcat]

I can see the banners now. Hail Caesar. Escort of the year. Ruler of boystown. Flogger of corporate greed. ...let romann put their nuts in a vice for you and hit Max on the tens machine. Lol. Can I be campaign manager.