Maggie Daley Thanks Chicago

By Soyoung Kwak in Miscellaneous on Sep 12, 2010 4:30PM

If you haven't heard already, Mayor Daley isn't seeking re-election after 21 years in office and has the whole city up in arms and talking about what this means for Chicago (and who the next big boss could be). Although some may have seen Daley's retirement coming, it came as a shock and surprise to many to think that the Daley era of politics would be over. Maggie Daley, Chicago's First Lady, spoke up about her husband's decision not to run for mayor and talked about the future plans for the mayor and for herself yesterday. Citing that it took Mayor Daley "months" to come to a decision about what to do, Maggie Daley also said that she encouraged her husband to do what he thought was best for him:

"You know, it was just a matter of 'What do you think is best for you?' That simple," Maggie Daley said she told the mayor before he announced his decision last Tuesday.

Maggie Daley, rarely a presence in the press, also indicated that she would be continuing her philanthropic work connected to After School Matters even after Mayor Daley steps down from office. Mrs. Daley used her time with the press to discuss her husband's tenure as mayor (and deflected questions about her battle with cancer). Mrs. Daley indicated that she was very proud of Mayor Daley's accomplishments while in office, and made Chicago residents blush by praising their hospitality:

"It's been a wonderful experience," she said. "We are so grateful to the people of Chicago. They're the best in the world. And they've been kind to me and to our family, and my gratitude knows no bounds."

Mayor Daley steps down from office next May.