* 3:22 pm - In case you’re wondering, I checked with the Chicago elections board a little while ago and was told they haven’t yet received hearing officer Joe Morris’ recommendations in the Rahm Emanuel residency case. Morris was originally scheduled to turn in his brief yesterday afternoon, which morphed into last night, which morphed into midday today. Midday has come and gone, of course.
The board will meet tomorrow to decide Emanuel’s fate. Check this post for updates.
From the board…
The members of the Chicago Electoral Board will meet to hear this case and most likely issue a decision at a session that will start at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Dec. 23 at 69 W. Washington St., in the Lower Level Conference Room. This is an open meeting. This is the same room at the base of the escalator where the evidentiary hearing was conducted last week. The attorneys on both sides have already requested a “Rule 20″ hearing to address the Board before the Commissioners vote.
* Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Rev. Sen. James Meeks may drop out of the race…
Congressman Danny Davis, former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun and State Sen. James Meeks met privately Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to unite behind a consensus black candidate for mayor.
One day before Thursday’s deadline to drop out of the race, the three top African-Americans in the race tried once again to find the unity that has so far eluded them.
The candidates discussed current election poll results and “factors that will contribute most significantly to victory for whoever is running and their chances of being successful,” Davis told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Braun confirmed she met with her opponents, but told reporters she “would not make news” on that topic.
If any of the three major black candidates drop out of the race, it’s most likely to be Meeks. And a source familiar with Wednesday’s discussion said that could happen soon.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I just talked to Meeks’ spokesman. The relevant quotes…
“Meeks is not dropping out… He’s gotten nothing but encouragement from people for speaking out on the minority and women-owned business program… A meeting took place, but he’s not dropping out.”
…Adding… In making some more calls, I’m not sure I totally believe the campaign’s denial. We’ll see soon enough.
*** UPDATE 2 - 9:57 pm *** From James Allen, spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners…
We’re told a recommendation in the residency case should be coming in the next hour or so.
Shakespeare in the dark, that guy.
* 12:00 am - From Lynn Sweet’s Twitter page a half an hour ago…
Rahm Emanuel residency case hearing officer decision expected soon. Stay up late!
- amalia - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 3:43 pm:
Of course she won’t make news….Reyes and Noonan know their job is too important to let her do that.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 3:43 pm:
Does he go Meekly?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 3:46 pm:
He never does anything meekly.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:00 pm:
It would seem that accepting Rahm’s residency would be the likeliest and least controversial recommendation. That being the case, is makes little sense to drag it out.
Could it be that a denial is in the works?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:01 pm:
Plutocrat03, Morris is, um, loquacious. Give him time.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:04 pm:
I will give Mr. Morris credit, and I do know him. When he does something, it is always very thorough.
- amalia - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:31 pm:
Meeks…chicago for chutzpah.
- Draznnl - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:45 pm:
Is there a Meeks to English dictionary somewhere? I would love to know how “encouragement” translates.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 4:54 pm:
“Meeks is not dropping out… He’s gotten nothing but encouragement from people for speaking out on the minority and women-owned business program…
——–
Yes, he’s been “encouraged” to take his talents back to the state Senate.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
Wouldn’t Rahm want Meeks to stay in the race and be the runner-up? I think Chico (whose response on the insider lobbying story was pretty lame) is his biggest threat in a one-on-one. (Note I didn’t say big threat, just biggest).
- amalia - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 5:08 pm:
He got encouragement on the minority and women-owned business program, what, to understand the separate percentage set asides? to come to grips with reality that not all white women are married, or wealthy? Let’s imagine that this were, oh, say a Haley Barbour type running in Chicago. the media would be out with pitchforks. the same should happen to Meeks. it should be unacceptable for him to continue to run for Mayor.
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 5:36 pm:
Maybe Joe shouldn’t have taken time off to guest on Milt Rosenberg’s show Sunday night to talk about books or whatever it was.
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 6:00 pm:
I imagine there will be a press conference soon, Meeks will drop out, but will Davis or Braun give it up? What can Davis offer Braun to drop out?
- Gregor - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
The big reason for them getting together to pitch a single candidate was to be a credible threat to Rahm so they could buy some kind of favors or positions in his administration in exchange for “delivering” the vote of their bloc. That threat is fast eroding, and while I think Davis will come out on top soon, the fact that everybody knows this is all for show kind of takes the force out of it. Especially since the bloc they think they can command is actually very fragmented, and getting more and more independent-minded. It is dangerous to assume race-based voting patterns are forever “locked-in”. We saw this a while back with Polish candidates who thought they had Milwaukee Avenue all locked up solid… and they didn’t, not by half. In these uncertain times, what people seem to like is certainty and security and a sense of order and continuity and I think the factions fighting over who gets to “deliver” the black vote in Chicago don’t project much of that. They project more factionlaism, a zero-sum game.
I think Chicagoans who’s votes are allegedly “up for grabs” and “owned” by one of these three, might just ignore race (how novel) and empty promises, and pick the person they think can really deliver the services. Post-racial thinking is about enlightened self-interest over blind allegiances that have not really paid off in the past. Meeks being the example there.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 8:19 pm:
The Trib said no answer tonight via Twitter… So the drama continues…
- SR - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 9:29 pm:
I posited this question in the other thread, but I’ll put it here as well… Do you think Miller wants to put his recommendation out the same day as the Election Panel convenes to render their decision so we only have one more day of the citizen objectors or questioners commanding the stage?
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 10:12 pm:
I don’t know, but I wonder if maybe Joe Morris didn’t want to share the stage with the George Ryan story on Tues and then the fire tragedy today.
He’s a very smart guy, but he’s also got an ego and a likes to hear himself talk. Just sayin’.