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Daley to announce today * Updated x1 *

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Illinois

This was never in much doubt.

Moving to secure his own place in Chicago’s storied political history, Mayor Richard M. Daley is expected to declare his candidacy on Monday for a sixth term as he seeks to vault past his late father’s record for longevity.

Though Daley’s announcement will come against the backdrop of a continuing and politically damaging federal investigation into City Hall corruption, it also will be made in the absence of any high-profile re-election challenge.

If he is victorious and serves out the full term, Daley, 64, would have 22 years in office. That would just surpass the record of 21 years and seven months set by his mentor and father, the late Mayor Richard J. Daley.

I never really believed that Daley would allow the pundits and the prosecutors to run him out of office. Any thoughts on this upcoming “contest”?

Meanwhile, Congressman Jackson’s wife is expected to run for alderman.

The wife of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) plans to run for alderman of the 7th Ward in the Feb. 27 elections, sources said Friday.

Weeks after her husband declined to challenge Mayor Richard Daley, Sandi Jackson’s entry into the race would create a marquee clash with some of the mayor’s most powerful black allies.

The longtime 7th Ward alderman, William Beavers, recently stepped down to become a Cook County commissioner. Beavers wants the mayor to appoint his daughter and chief of staff, Darcel Beavers, to succeed him. […]

Earlier in the week, Jesse Jackson Jr. said his wife had collected 5,000 nominating signatures for alderman and had mailed campaign literature in the ward. The couple’s home is in the South Shore neighborhood.

*** UPDATE *** And here’s the announcement coverage from CBS2:

“I have more to give to keep Chicago moving forward,” Daley said. “I am a candidate for mayor of the great City of Chicago.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together to improve the lives of the people of Chicago,” added Daley, 64, who made his announcement at the Gary Comer Youth Center, at 7200 S. Ingleside Ave. He stood on a stage with people of every race and creed. […]

Later Monday, he will make two campaign-style stops — one near the Loop and one on Milwaukee Avenue.

He will hold one-on-one interviews with the news media later, but took no questions Monday.

Video is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 9:01 am

Comments

It’s going to be an interesting race. The mayor’s office isn’t going to switch but I’d be interested in knowing about the aldermanic races. I wonder how many flips there.

Comment by Levois Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 9:33 am
Until Chicago starts electing adults, there will be no one else to serve as mayor, than Daley.

Isn’t is sick that in one of the country’s largest, most populous counties, it appears that nepotism has replaced democracy? If this isn’t a huge warning flag as to Chicagoland’s future, not much is.

It will take everything Daley has to keep the city afloat in this sea of mediocrity.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 10:26 am
Animal House

the county/city building at 69 w washington was packed with municipal hopefuls this morning, more than 73 before i stopped asking. the festive atmosphere (for many candidates, today will be their high water mark) was accented with one campaign’s perpetual chant of TOGA! TOGA! TOGA! whenever there were reporters around.

jose cerda was there with more than 27,000 signatures. his wife laid them out for the cameras, so expect to see quite a few shots of cerda panning down to his stack of petitions.

joe moore was there with more than 5,300 signatures. all of his declared opponents were there, too: chris adams said he had around 1000 signatures, don gordon and jim ginderske also were there.

david askew had almost 3,000 signatures, greg brewer brought in more than 1,500 and brendan reilly, temoc morfin and michele smith had around a 1,000 in the bag.

the political dinosaur, bernie stone was there, looking very tired. he wouldn’t say how many signatures he had, but speculation is around 2,500. his friend, burt natarus was nowhere to be found. lots of excitement. i’m sure daley’s announcement will drown out coverage of the aldermanics and other city candidates, but…

Comment by bored now Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 10:55 am
Darcel will kill Sandi in the 7th. Jr should stick to the south suburbs and forget about Chicago.

Comment by Bill Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 11:24 am
At least Jackson’s wife is running and not being appointed after the primary ala Hare, Stroger, Bob I Steal Jr., etc.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 12:19 pm
I don’t think anyone should be surprised Daley is running………not now…..now 12 months ago……not five years from now. I fully expect that barring a federal indictment he will stay as Mayor until he is too sick to stand or dead.

What would he do if he retired? Teach speech at the University of Chicago? He has a an excellent salary, doesn’t overwork himself, and gets to take trips, “business development”, paid by private interests.

It’s not a bad life and he doesn’t seem overwrought by the thoughts of his lackeys doing jail time and protecting him. It may bother him……he did have some kind words to say about them. Of course he doesn’t have the courage to say he approved of the anti-Shakman shenanigans.

ARRRRRRRRRH

Comment by irishpirate Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 1:14 pm
The citizens of the City of Chicago should get a refund.

You may say for what. For the corruption tax that Mayor Daley has secretly imposed on us without due process. We have paid so much of the Cities money on corruption, I’m surprised the City isn’t in a budget deficit.

The Mayor better watch out for Mr. Jesse Jackson Jr. and if you think he’s not running—–think again.

It is time to relive the Harold Washington legacy and it will be continued by Jesse Jackson Jr., not Mr. Corruption himself.

This will be your last year Mr. Corruption, no more for you especially if Pat has anything to say about it.

Comment by Once a Crook Always a Crook Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 1:14 pm
Is there anyone out there who will run against this clown? And you thought Ray Wardingly was a clown… Daley takes the cake. I thought Jr was going to run. But I guess he would rather play majority politics than strive for credible city gov’t….

Comment by Lovie's Leather Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 1:51 pm
Bill, check the results of every race the Jackson’s have contested since 1995. They have won every one. They will win this one.

on another funny note, Bob Fioretti has mailers, posters, etc. out calling himself the “Democratic” candidate in the 2nd Ward Aldermanic race.

Uh, Bob–Chicago City Council election went non-partisan about 25 years ago.

Earth to Fioretti? Come in, Fioretti!

Comment by Mike Williams Monday, Dec 11, 06 @ 6:40 pm
Mike:
The Jacksons came up empty when they challenged IKE Carrouthers in 2003 in the city Aldermanic races. They supported Rev. Marshall Hatch, the head of Operation PUSH Westside Branch and got the head handed to them on a stick.

Comment by Trey Tuesday, Dec 12, 06 @ 5:45 am
Ok, Mike if you say so. We’ll see. Meeks won’t be any help in the 7th. Jr shouldn’t try to play with the big boys just yet. By the way,Fioretti IS a real democrat unlike the out of touch, anti-labor,arrogant, appointed incumbent. She gone!!

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 12, 06 @ 7:04 am
Oh, and Mike,
I haven’t seen any Fred Hampton Way signs around the ward, have you?

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 12, 06 @ 9:11 am
Oh please, not another four years of bashing gun-owners!

Comment by Pro-Gunner Wednesday, Dec 13, 06 @ 8:11 am
If Daley’s name ended in a vowel, he would already be in jail.

Comment by Anna Thursday, Jan 4, 07 @ 11:35 pm