*** UPDATE *** Apparently, state Representative-elect Deb Mell has been making several phone calls today. From The Hill…

State Rep.-elect Deborah Mell, the sister-in-law of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), told The Hill that she would run just hours after Emanuel officially accepted President-elect Barack Obama’s offer to become his chief of staff on Thursday. […]

She said she “would imagine” that the governor would endorse her.

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley said he is leaning toward running and even took a quick swipe at Mell.

“I waited until the congressman made his decision, which was today,” Quigley said. “You need at least a day to get some questions answered and make some choices. It’s not who decides first to run; it’s who decides that’s best qualified and is most viable.” […]

State Sen. John Cullerton, who is in the middle of a tight race to become the next state Senate president, said Thursday that he has no interest in the congressional race.

[ *** End of Update *** ]

* The name-floating has begun for Congressman Rahm Emanuel’s seat. Here’s CBS 2’s take…

Among the names that have been mentioned by political analysts as possible candidates are state Reps. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioners Mike Quigley (D-10th) and Forrest Claypool (D-12th), Ald. Thomas Allen (38th), and State Representative-elect Deborah Mell.

Cullerton is not running. At least that’s what he told me yesterday. No way, he said. I talked to Deb Mell today, as well as others (they’re coming outta the woodwork, man), but you’ll have to subscribe to see what they said.

* The Tribune…

Even Wednesday, a long line of Democrats interested in running for the Emanuel seat took only minutes to form, including Ald. Thomas Allen (38th) and state Rep. John Fritchey. Deborah Mell, daughter of Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) and Blagojevich’s sister-in-law, also expressed interest in replacing Emanuel even though she was just elected to the state House on Tuesday and hasn’t been sworn in yet.

Cook County Commissioners Mike Quigley and Forrest Claypool also are being talked about as potential candidates.

[Sigh. Moved too fast and didn’t read all the way down. Nevermind what I wrote about Claypool and is now deleted. He said he “wouldn’t rule it out.” Sorry.]

* More on that special election…

Gov. Rod Blagojevich must call a special election at least five days after the vacancy occurs. After that, the election must be held within 115 days.

* Meanwhile, before it gets picked up by Drudge or somebody, you should know that this IR post claiming Emanuel doesn’t pay property taxes is just flat-out incorrect. Emanuel pays property taxes. I figured it was a big story if true, so I checked. They apparently didn’t.

If you don’t believe me, here’s a copy of Emanuel’s tax payment record for this year. The pin number is on that copy, so you can look it up yourself at the treasurer’s website.

Somebody at the IR site also deleted a comment posted by the Cook County Assessor’s office which explained IR’s error. Not sure why. Here’s the deleted comment…

Your posting about Rahm Emanuel’s house being tax exempt is wholly inaccurate. Rep. Emanuel’s house is on the tax rolls, and he and Ms. Rule have paid the taxes on it.

The Emanuel house sits on two lots. For tax purposes, the property is listed as 4232 N. Hermitage Ave. The PIN is 14-18-408-035-0000. As you can see, 4232 N. Hermitage came up as one of the addresses when you searched Emanuel’s block on our web site.

4228 N. Hermitage is listed as the mailing address on the tax records. Had you taken the trouble to contact the Assessor’s office, we could have told you that — and told you that it is not at all uncommon for addresses to be merged for properties on two lots.

According to the Cook County Treasurer’s web site, Emanuel and his wife paid $13,022.60 in property taxes this year.

Awaiting a response.

*** UPDATE 2 *** IR has now posted an incomprehensible update. In case you care, I’ve posted the assessor’s office response to IR’s questions at this link.

*** UPDATE 3 *** There are no words to describe the level of denial at that site. A third post is now online. Oy.

Again, I thought the original post might be a huge story, considering Emanuel’s new job, which is why I checked it out. I was gonna give IR full props. What a scoop that would’ve been. But, alas, it was wholly false and they have yet to issue a retraction. Hey, it’s their site, and they can run it the way they want, but to lash out at others for pointing out their multiple mistakes and their refusal to own up to those egregious errors is the height of buffoonery. Larry has more here and another liberal hit man has some good stuff here.

The erroneous story, by the way, has now spread to the front page of RedState as well as to several other blogs.