Replacing Rahm

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 6, 2008 9:45PM

Just yesterday we were speculating over who would replace outgoing Senator Barack Obama who has a new job. Now we turn our attention to the departing Rahm Emanuel, who even though he was just reelected to his U.S. House seat on Tuesday, is leaving Congress to become Chief of Staff in the Obamistration. Governor Blagojevich, who seems to have plenty on his plate already, will have to set a special election to fill Congressman Rahm's seat (unlike with the Senate seat, where Blago is allowed by law to name a successor). FYI - Rahm holds the same seat (5th District reprezent!) Blago did before he bolted in '02 to become governor. The law requires the special election be held if there is more than 180 days until the next election (in this case, it is - 2 years, actually) and the election must be set within 5 days of the official vacancy.

So who is lining up to take Rahm's place? Early contenders look to be:

• Ald. Thomas Allen (38th)
• State Rep. John Fritchey
• Deborah Mell (daughter of Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) and Blagojevich's sister-in-law) even though she was just elected to the State House of Tuesday
• Red Wings hater Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley
• Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool
• My dog, Franklin Roosevelt

Seeing as how I live in the 5th District and therefore have a vested interest in who is elected to replace Rahm, I'd like to invite anyone who officially declares their candidacy (i.e., secures his/her name on the ballot) to stop by Chicagoist HQ for an interview and to tell us why you'd be the best person for the job.

Image from Rahm Emanuel's website