There is no need to research the usual suspects since major local media is already doing that. Who are some of the other people on the list of 20? I am taking the time to check out their references of a few of them so you don’t have to.
Rob Halpin
This is the gentleman whose family has been renting Rahm Emanuel’s home and refused to vacate the premises when Rahmbo decided to move back to Chicago. While Halpin denies accusations that he's only running for mayor in order to embarrass Emanuel, I have figured out why Halpin is in the race.
Election attorney Burt Odelson is filing suit against Rambo’s candidacy on the residency issue. If there is someone ELSE in the race (think Halpin) who is living in the home that Rahmbo has filed as HIS residence, it makes the lawsuit more viable. Very obvious and smart legal move on Odelson’s part.
Howard Ray
The only information I could find on Ray is that he pays $3400 in property taxes on his home at 4320 W. Augusta. He probably thinks they are too high, so that is why he is running. Pure speculation on my part. But since he has no Mayoral web site, how serious can his candidacy be?
John Hu
Hu has a web site, http://www.citizenmayor.net/. that tells us:
“As you know I'm running for Mayor of Chicago. Like many of you, I've become fed up with the way Chicago does business. Career politicians have messed up this city. The Voice of the People can no longer be heard! We need more jobs. We need more police officers. We need help in our neighborhoods and in our schools. My background is not in law but in business. I believe a business minded person needs to become the next Mayor of Chicago.
As mayor, I would make government more transparent, efficient and
less wasteful. Our city, because of patronage, is moving in the wrong direction. I would like to change that so your voice will be heard once again, and I promise that every decision I make as Mayor will be for the benefit of the citizens of Chicago.”
What made him decide to run?
“After the City of Chicago sold the parking meter lease deal... that was it! How could these politicians who never pay for parking or even drive their own cars know what it is like to park in Chicago? I knew they had lost touch with the citizens.”
So we know that the parking meter debacle was the impetus for his candidacy. Good answer, we all hate that calamity.
Tom Hanson
Hanson is a Republican who was a candidate for the 5th Illinois Congressional District. Ironically, that is Rahm Emanuel’s old district, interesting connection. He had a web site for that race,http://vote-il.org/Intro.aspx?Id=ILHansonTom, but does not have one for Mayor.
In his Congressional race he said, “Since Congress has adopted the bailout, we now see what a mess the Democratic controlled Congress got us into and what Clinton's relaxing of regulations on the financial industry has done to Americans. The time is right to bring in an all NEW Congress, people, like myself who know what real issues are pressing their District and are willing to pass legislation and create solutions for these voters. My top priorities are going after Todd Stroger and the excessive taxation going on in Cook County that is stripping my voters of all their hard earned money. Second, is to develop qualified day care and after school centers for voters in each of my Districts neighborhoods. Having a safe and affordable place for their children while they are at work is one of the toughest challenges a family faces today. I want to address, through legislation, the reduction or stabilizing of prescription medication prices that Americans are over paying for. I am your neighbor, the person you sit next to in church, a father and small business owner, not a career politician.”
None of that has anything to do with being Mayor of Chicago. Wonder if he will update his message to be more current!
Frederick K. White
His web site, http://www.fredrick-k-white.com, says he will be a "Mayor For All of Chicago." What? As opposed to half of Chicago?
His primary goals are:
"Lower Taxes, increase city services, lower city unemployment and run a more efficient, ethical and morally correct administration."
"Recently a lot more people have jumped into the race for Mayor. Please listen to them carefully. All of them have one thing in common - THEY ARE COUNTING ON A NAIVE PUBLIC TO SEND THEM MONEY - MOST OF THEM WANT 5 MILLION DOLLARS OR THEY WON'T RUN! Once again they are trying to con the public. I just want you read my platform and e-mail it to your friends and family. If you would like a printable copy please e-mail me at the link below and I will send it. We as a society have to create jobs for the 40% unemployeed in Chicago and the future graduating college students."
The spelling of UNEMPLOYEED on his web site is his mistake, not mine. The current mayor does not speak well, so maybe we need one who cannot spell!
Fenton C. Patterson
We know he exists, but I could not find anything on him.
Tyrone Carter
Tyrone Carter, while a famous player for the San Diego Chargers, is probably not the same gentleman who is running for Mayor of Chicago.
According to Wikipedia, the football Carter has a brother Hank who, “Was sentenced to five years in prison for not appearing at court for a charge of driving with a revoked license. Rather than report to prison on January 6th, 2006, where he was to serve a 6 month prison sentence, he instead traveled to watch his brother play three road playoff games and then in Super Bowl XL. Tank had originally been scheduled to report to jail on December 8th, 2005, but Circuit Judge Stanton S. Kaplan allowed him an extra month to spend the holidays with his family and children. When he finally turned himself in on February 13th, one week after Super Bowl XL, the judge added 54 months to his original 6 month sentence.”
That kind of familial loyalty is a trait of a true Chicago politician, so maybe he IS the Carter who is running!
Caroline writes:
ReplyDelete" A wonderful blog. One of your finest."
Cheryl writes:
ReplyDelete"I knew you were going to support Gery.
I still believe you would be a wonderful Mayor."
Taryn writes:
ReplyDelete" I have taken great pleasure in reading your blogs. There is such a wealth of thought provoking content, and it is nice to have a better understanding on what is going on in the political world."
Bob writes:
ReplyDelete"Esther and I are both going to vote for Gery Chico and have been urging others to do so, citing, as you did, his long experience in public service in Chicago.
Additionally, your are 100% correct on the Halpin candidacy."