Countdown to Rahmageddon: New Residency Issues Revealed

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 17, 2010 3:20PM

If there's an Achilles heel to Rahm Emanuel's campaign, it's the questions regarding his residency. The Rahmformer may have thought he put it to bed once he rented a West Town condo while his Ravenswood home is still occupied by a man who's mulling his own mayoral run, but Tribune columnist John Kass writes in today's paper that Emanuel's name has been purged from the voting rolls twice in the past 13 months.

Emanuel's name was reinstated both times, allowing him to vote. But it does raise the issue that Emanuel's residency could become a major problem for him in the upcoming months. Emanuel's campaign says it isn't an issue but, according to state election law:

"A person is not eligible for an elected municipal office unless that person is a qualified elector of the municipality and has resided in the municipality at least one year next preceding the election or appointment."

With Halpin having rented Emanuel's home for longer than that, this law could become the pin that blows up Emanuel's campaign.