Chicago held its February election, and we have a new mayor-elect. The race wasn’t close enough to force a run-off election between the two top candidates, so the mayoral voting is complete. Former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel ran away with it, and got over 50% of the votes. It somehow seems fitting that “King Daley”, as I call our mayor for the past 21 years, will be stepping down and his successor’s name reminds me of Christmas and stories of newborn kings.
Personally, I think Rahm had the best hair of all the candidates, by far. He has lovely thick silver hair. I also like that his name is relatively easy to say and spell. It’s fun to call him Rahmbo, as some do, as he’s infamous for “taking no prisoners” in pursuit of his goals. It’s amusing to picture him, like Sylvester Stallone, in headband and armless shirt, running around the jungle (in our case, an urban jungle), knocking off “bad guys”. Rahm was the U.S. House representative for my district prior to becoming Chief of Staff, so I was familiar with him before he became more of a national figure. I like Rahm’s sense of humor. When President Obama thanked Rahm for his service as Chief of Staff, Emanuel replied that he was sure he’d taught the President a lot – including several new four-letter words and combinations thereof.
Seriously, Rahm’s great hair, humor, and name didn’t impact my vote (much). I did vote. I try to be an informed, educated voter. I don’t read and watch everything that’s available, but I watch “Chicago Tonight” on public television a few times a week and listen to public radio regularly. I watched a few of the mayoral forums, and I read what I could about the city clerk candidates’ ideas and qualifications.
I voted before work. The polling place is only a few blocks from my house. When I arrived, my initial reaction was “Good, there’s no line! I won’t be late to work!” That was quickly followed by the disappointment of realizing there was NO line, in fact there were no other voters there at all.
The precinct captain greeted me at the door, and I was checked in quickly. It didn’t take long to cast my votes, as there were only a few races – city clerk, mayor, alderman, and city treasurer. Not like the November election where the ballot was three pages, including numerous judges. Chicago definitely has more than it’s share of politics and politicians, especially now that so many from Indiana and Wisconsin are hiding out here.
I thanked the captain and other workers as I left. I think it’s great people are involved in the political process. As one voter that was interviewed said, with so many people fighting and giving their lives in pursuit of democracy, how can we just pass on the privilege to vote? I have a friend, Merril, who I admire for all her service as a precinct captain and president of her neighborhood association. I don’t know how she does it all.
I’m not as involved in politics as I should be, but I did vote. I’m glad. I feel like in my own small little way, I contributed to this great democracy we live in.
Submitted for publication in the Greeley Citizen
Life of the Lintee Bean 