Today in Mayoral Chess: Dart, Gutierrez Meet

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 12, 2010 3:40PM

Tom Dart Photo Credit: Chicago Magazine

The jockeying for position among prospective mayoral candidates is going to be much more fun than watching Richard Daley serve out the final seven months of his term. Rahm Emanuel has been meeting with other prospective candidates including Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Now comes word that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Congressman Luis Gutierrez met to discuss the wide open race.

It makes sense that players to succeed Daley start marking their turf now and find out what candidate to back for a possible runoff election. Both Dart and Gutierrez are good sound bites with aspirations for higher office; Gutierrez has had his eyes on the Fifth Floor since Harold Washington died in 1987. Both Dart and Gutierrez are also circulating nominating petitions to be included on the Feb. 22 ballot. With recent polls showing Dart running strong behind Emanuel based on name recognition, meeting with Gutierrez makes sense in case he makes it to a runoff, where every vote and endorsement counts.