Ok. Let me see if I get this straight.
A longtime resident of the City of Chicago moves to Washington, DC for two years to serve his country at the highest levels – White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emanuel does not sell his Chicago home and continues to pay taxes. Indeed, he always intends to return and keeps many of his worldly possessions in Chicago.
When the Mayor decides not to seek re-election, this longtime resident decides he wants to return to the city he loves and use his considerable political skills (acknowledged by the leadership of both political parties) to run for Mayor. He hopes to help the citizens of that city navigate the difficult economic times and bring jobs and new opportunities to all.
Yesterday, an appellate court in a split decision (2 to 1) said no. You are not a “resident” of the city. Beat it.
This case seems to turn legally on the definition of what is meant in the law by “resident”. What is a resident? Do you have to sleep in a bed in Chicago one day, one week, one month a year? What if you are not sleeping – but merely faking it? Do you have to close your eyes to WGN on TV and set your alarm to WBBM news radio 780, in the morning or do you have to attend one Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks or Bulls game?
I say home ownership and paying your taxes in Chicago affords you the right to be deemed a resident for purposes of throwing your hat in the ring for public office. It’s an objective test and a fair one. Consider for a moment those directly impacted by the court’s decision to the contrary. Only a handful of citizens seek public office. Most of those will not have a challenge to their residency. Those that do will likely be like Rahm Emanuel. They served their country in Washington, or in the military in harm’s way, or as diplomats in embassies too often under attack, or as an aid worker in Darfur. Are those the people we want to deny the right to serve the citizens of Chicago?
I’ve read that if Rahm had simply not rented out his Chicago home and instead spent a few nights there in his Chicago Cub pajamas he would be just fine. But that can’t be right. So a billionaire Tycoon, who lives in Monaco to avoid taxes, can run for Mayor because he did not have to rent out his Trump Chicago Penthouse. That ain’t right.
In the end, the decision must be left to voters. In these tough economic times, the citizens of the “City that Works” should have the opportunity to decide who should lead them, not the courts. They know Mr. Emanuel lived in Washington, DC; if his loyalty to Chicago is somehow compromised by that fact, vote for the other guy – but don’t deny voters the opportunity.
I sure hope the Judges on the Illinois Supreme Court, which will hear the case next, get it right and remember that elections are about the will of the people.
(Full disclosure: I am a former resident of Chicago.)