*** UPDATE *** Burris won’t do it…
Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., who has run for nearly every major office in the state, says he is not interested in replacing Richard M. Daley as mayor of Chicago.
“No, I’m not interested in running for mayor of Chicago,” Burris told reporters before he toured Southwind Park in Springfield this morning.
“Certainly there’ll be talk. Fortunately, my name has not been mentioned, so that’s on the good side.
Asked why he won’t run, Burris said, “How much money do you got? Get $5 million and then talk to me.”
Yeah. That’s why. I’m sure.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Ald. Sandi Jackson said told NBC5 that she and her husband the congressman are both considering the mayor’s race…
“I’m considering it,” said Ald. Jackson Wednesday. “I love campaigns.”
Asked whether or how that affected Jesse Jr.’s mayoral ambition, Ald. Jackson said they would discuss the matter at home.
“My husband and I will sit down and decide if either of us will run,” she said.
And Congressman Jackson’s brother just floated his own name to the Chicago Defender…
Chicago State University business professor Jonathan Jackson is also interested.
“I had not seriously considered it before but now I am,” Jonathan Jackson told the Defender. “I will take a strong look at it and make a decision fairly soon.”
* Meanwhile, we can take Dorothy Brown off the list…
“I am not running for mayor. It’s just something I have not thought about,” she said. “But I do think a Black candidate has just as good of a chance of winning as any other candidate if they are qualified.”
* Greg Hinz looks at CTA Chairman Terry Peterson and state Sen. James Meeks…
Mr. Peterson — who’s held a half-dozen city gigs and clearly knows the game — could be formidable. If, that is, he’s willing to put aside his comfy private sector gig and really go for the gold. I have my doubts.
Mr. Meeks has feinted before for higher office, but he’s putting on a good show this time. Best-known as a leading advocate for better funding of schools, he comes out of Jesse Jackson Jr.’s organization. And he has one other interesting credential: He’s built, from scratch, a huge church and congregation in his day job as a minister, something that ironically could help him with the business community.
Peterson was uncommittal yesterday when asked about a possible race.
* I told subscribers that Daley would do this earlier today…
A day after announcing he won’t seek another term, Mayor Richard Daley said he won’t endorse anyone in the race to succeed him.
“It can be the people of the city of Chicago that will make that decision,” Daley said. “The people of Chicago can make that recommendation.”
Thoughts?
LIVE session coverage...
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:08 pm:
Go James Go!
- Montrose - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:10 pm:
What about Jesse Sr.? Or Marlon? Or Tito?
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:12 pm:
go Sandi!! you would be the best canidate.
- Pioneer P. - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:28 pm:
Sandi has some serious ethical challenges, not to mention those of her husband. Wasn’t the gist of it that she was paying herself consulting fees, her husband was paying her consulting fees through some company that was her kids’ names spelled backwards? I just don’t like how she and JJJ roll. It takes work, but not a lot to do things the right way. Maybe it costs you some cash, but they don’t seem to know the difference between right and wrong. Very sketchy.
- Will County Woman - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:31 pm:
didn’t the tribune run a story last year about the aldermanic allowances and how some alderman used the perk on questionable expenses? If memory serves in Sandi’s case the question was did she spend all or part of her tax payer funded allowance ($100K) money on clothing or to cover clothing purchases on an Amex card? I don’t reacall off the top her reaction to the story.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:37 pm:
I’m upset Dorothy Brown isn’t running. I was so looking forward to Jeans Day in the City Council.
- Lincoln Parker - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:41 pm:
I love it, Dorthy only runs to take votes away from others. 2007 Mayoral, 2010 Cook County Board Pres.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:46 pm:
Lincoln Parker,
Sounds like you are comparing Ms Brown to “Senator” Burris with the whole spoiler thing. Are you saying she is just a pawn? A tool of the democratic machine? PrayTell, what is her motivation? What is the payoff?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:46 pm:
Of all the Jacksons, I think Janet would be best. Mayor Jackson — if you’re nasty.
Of historical Jacksons, Andrew would be perfect for Chicago’s outlaw ways.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 2:56 pm:
Just think about a Jackson as Mayor and Brady as Governor. I couldn’t ask for more to blog about. Other than Alan Keyes as Senator.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:03 pm:
Daley will pull strings behind the scenes for his favorite candidate as he did for Preckwinkle and will work against candidates he doesn’t like as he did in the Spring against Hoffman.
As to the Jacksons, ooooohhhh the investigative reporters and good government groups are just wetting their chops. Imagine the campaign in the middle of the Rod retrial. That would be fun.
- soccermom - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:07 pm:
Word —
Oh you nasty boy. :)
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:12 pm:
“Of all the Jacksons, I think Janet would be best. Mayor Jackson — if you’re nasty.”
Well done. And I’ll second that.
Talk about scaring the business community away from Chicago, just put any of the Jesse Jackson progeny in. Yeah, there were a lot of corruption issues but I doubt if there is a harder working public official than this Mayor Daley. Chicago can get a LOT worse.
- Quinn T. Sential - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:14 pm:
The people of Chicago will decide who the next Mayor will be; except that when the Mayor steps down before the end of his term, they will not decide the successor that get to run with the advantage of incumbency.
“When I origiinally decided not to run for re-election, I had every intention of serving out the balance of my term. Circumstances beyond my control have arisen however and unfortunately, in the interest of my family I must resign the office much sooner than I had intended. It has been an honor to serve the great citizens of Chicago, I love this city and its people too much to continue to serve in this capacity on a part time basis. The people of this great city deserve a full time Mayor, and fortunately there is a succession process in place to make sure that this happens”.
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:21 pm:
This thing will descend into cannabilism before its all over.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:25 pm:
How could anyone say what Sandi Jackson said with a straight face? Just how alternative is that virtual world she lives in? She sounds like some kind of anterevolutionary French Duchess burdened by her serfs.
This is the same group of people who had attempted to purchase a US Senate seat like they were reserving a seat at Les Nomades. Their recent behavior would embarress most people into silence.
There seems to be a dearth of humility in that group of pompous parasites.
No thank you Duchess of Dyspepsia.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:35 pm:
Daley will not endorse publicly, anyway…he has a hefty campaign chest and dozens of folks angling to keep their City jobs…he will support whomever he chooses in the way that he ended his career…under the radar…he will want to protect his legacy and assure the business community that all will be well…
- Who cares - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:39 pm:
This is going to be so bleeping entertaining!
- QRBNST - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:40 pm:
It’s always fun to see pols or potential pols inflate their resumes/job titles.
Jonathan Jackson is not listed as a business professor at Chicago State University (or as anything else, he’s not in the university directory).
My guess is that he sometimes works as an adjunct…which is NOT the same thing.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:43 pm:
The Jacksons, please, get real!
- bored now - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:45 pm:
calling terry peterson formidible is an understatement. i seriously doubt he’d run just from personal observation, but whoever he aligns himself with — and any smart pol out there will be knocking down his door — will definitely have a leg up…
- ourMagician - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 3:56 pm:
Does Roland not have room on his tombstone?
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:23 pm:
ourMagician,
Perhaps Burris was referring to the cost of engraving his mayoral tenure into the monument, not the actual cost of any campaign. After all, it costs alot to have “Decided to run in the mayoral campaign of 2010/2011 but was thwarted in my attempt by evil forces beyond my control” All that chiseling costs alot, if you have to pay by the letter.
The Jackson family has just exposed themselves for the scheming leeches that we have suspected them of being. J3 and his wife pondering over who to get what spoils? Really? And the brother/professor. Is he serious? Really? Who is this guy? I mean, really, who is he? Oy.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:24 pm:
Perhaps that TV guy could hook Rolland up again.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:26 pm:
What about the Jackson brother who runs the beer distributor, that would be an option too…
- siriusly - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:31 pm:
What about Jesse Sr. ? I haven’t seen him say no yet.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:32 pm:
Have the Jacksons considered a bi-mayorship perhaps? Or a tri-mayorship? Chicago is a pretty big city to govern.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
==What about Jesse Sr. ?==
Well I think he’s temporarily without wheels. So that could be a problem.
- regular democrat - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
Cmon leave Roland alone already. He has been a very valuable vote for the pres. You guys keep messin with him One day he gonna snap!!!!
- bored now - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 4:46 pm:
responsa: what a terrific comment!
- D.P. Gumby - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 5:30 pm:
Shocked…it’s not an official election in Illinois unless Burris is running!
- Who cares - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 5:59 pm:
These are some of my favorite comments of all time! Thanks for the laughs.
- maestra - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 8:05 pm:
We happened to sit behind Burris at last year’s SIUC homecoming game. Our impression: As per its history, Illinois would certainly elect this guy!
- Objective Dem - Wednesday, Sep 8, 10 @ 10:47 pm:
Here is my quick down and dirty analysis.
Rahm Emanuel is the front runner. He was the only potential candidate that warranted articles devoted to whether or not he will run. He has $1.2 million in the bank and knows how to raise money better than anyone. He can get the backing of the Daley people. And he can pick up votes in the African American Community with the support of Obama. He is going to be hard to beat.
Valerie Jarret is an interesting possibility. Like Rahm she can pull in the Daley crowd and likely a fair number of African Americans. But she is a bit icy, has never run for office, and I don’t think has ever raised real money.
Tom Dart. I have never heard a bad word about Tom Dart. It may be because he hovers under most people’s radars. My impression is politically savvy and connected. He has a good shot.
Terry Peterson has strong potential. He has signficant credentials and experience. But I sense the AA community view him too much as a Daley guy and I just sense him as an also ran. It wouldn’t surprise me for him to put his hat in the ring, withdraw and endorse someone in return for future benefits. (of course that will be true for many candidates)
Gery Chico is the latino equivalent of Terry Peterson. Really strong credential and experience but somehow I don’t see him pulling it off.
Ed Burke. He has money and power. But he reminds me of Mr. Burns on the Simpsons and that is when Monty Burns is in a soft cuddly mood. Voting for him is looking to the past.
Jim Houlihan. He has some name recognition. I think he is competent. I think he will pull in the backing of some important people. But I don’t think Chicago is going to vote for a Irish man in his 60’s.
The Jacksons. Trying to buy the Senate seat dooms Jesse Jr.’s chances. If he actually did something during the years in Congress it might be overlooked. But his main issue has always been a 3rd airport far outside Chicago, which isn’t a vote getter in Chicago. Plus the Jacksons have never been popular with a large part of the AA leadership in Chicago. A bit too “national” in their approach. One upside for Sandi is she is one of the few women being discussed. But what has she ever done?
Ald. Fioretti is popular with a lot of people and viewed as an independent who fought Daley. He doesn’t have much experience and gives me the impression of a late night tv lawyer. I think he will run and see if he can catch fire. But I think he will also look to the AA community for votes and I think will only get luke warm support.
Con. Guiterez would love to run, but he has so much baggage that I don’t see it. Latinos are an important voting block but it is important to remember that their population is much larger than the number of voters. Partly due to non-citizens but largely due to the fact that a large number are younger than 18.
City Clerk Devalle has potential. My impression is he is a really decent guy. (Which I think may limit his ability to horse trade and make the deals that are likely required.) He has potential of uniting independents. Someone to keep an eye on.
Ald. Wagaposek - I can’t spell his name but I said that about Blago. I don’t see him raising the money or playing outside a narrow demographic.
Blago - I’m just waiting to hear his announcement and I’m not kidding. The guy loves the attention and loves tainting the jury pool. Plus I really think he is delusional enough to think he could win.
- Iron Man - Thursday, Sep 9, 10 @ 2:33 pm:
I see Lincoln Parker has brought into the non-sense that Dorothy Brown runs to take away votes from others. Dorothy Brown is and has always been a qualified legitimate candidate for whatever office she has run for. This woman has been so unfairly targeted by the media and the machine, I just wonder what are people afraid of, a person that could actually get the job done for a change and that would be fair to all the people. Check her office out, she has done amazing things, unlike any other elected official in a long time. As for Jeans Day, it is my understanding that Ms. Brown didn’t and still don’t like the idea of Jeans Days and only let her staff run the program after they begged her to let them do it to help burned out employees, charities and to pay for an Employee of the Year program. By the way, didn’t that Inspector General say Ms. Brown and her office were found of no wrongdoing. Enough already, give this qualified woman a break.