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Gay Successor to Chicago Mayor?


Mayor Richard Daley X390 (PRESS OFFICE) | ADVOCATE.COM
Mayor Richard M. Daley and wife Maggie

Richard M. Daley (pictured), Chicago’s mayor since 1989, surprised the city by announcing Tuesday he won’t seek reelection in 2011 — and political observers say the Windy City’s first openly gay alderman is a potential successor.

Daley, 68, made his announcement at a brief press conference, saying, “This is a personal decision, no more, no less,” and that it’s time for both him and the city to move on, the Chicago Tribune reports. Daley, a Democrat and son of longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, has been reelected easily in every race since taking office, but his popularity has declined recently due to the city’s budget problems and a surge in crime, the paper noted. On the personal side, his wife, Maggie, is suffering from cancer.

Daley has had a generally good relationship with Chicago’s large gay population. In 2006 he was inducted into the city’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a “Friend of the Community.” His administration’s achievements include establishing Chicago’s Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues and Office of LGBT Health; instituting domestic-partner benefits for city employees; and adding gender identity to the municipal human rights ordinance. He has voiced personal support for marriage equality.

Restaurateur Tom Tunney, the first and only openly gay Chicago city council member, is reportedly among those interested in the mayor’s office. Tunney saidlast spring that he would consider a run, but only if Daley retired. Other potential contenders, according to the Tribune, include President Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel; Cook County sheriff Tom Dart; outgoing county assessor James Houlihan; former Chicago inspector general David Hoffman; and several other aldermen.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: sjames6621
    Date posted: 9/8/2010 12:55:47 AM
    Hometown: baltimore

    Comment:

    There are about 72 gay mayors in the USA, but that is only a few % of the total number of mayors, which must number in the thousands. Includes Portland Or, Houston TX, Providence RI, Gainseville Fl etc If the gay person becomes a serious candidate for mayor next yr, it is incumbent for every gay person to in some way help him get elected. Donations, phone bankng which can be done from anywhere, feet on the street, bumper sticker and yard signs, letters to the editor. I've done this for eg the mayor of Gainesville FL. I made about 240 phone calls for him from here in MD. Its possible I made the difference. he won by 42 votes BTW, the nutcase who wants to help the Islamics go nuts by buring the Koran - he is the same freak who put up the nohomo mayor in Gainesville. Probably just another Mehlman These are the people who can make a difference for hte gay community

  • Name: RandyRandy
    Date posted: 9/7/2010 7:54:01 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    Say what you will about his Chicago style politics, but Chicagoland's GLBT community has had no better friend in office than Mayor Daley.



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