Rahm Renter Drops Out of Mayoral Race

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 6, 2010 10:00PM

Self-described "Catholic Kid from the North side" and pain in Rahm Emanuel's ass Rob Halpin is no longer an erstwhile mayoral candidate. Halpin withdrew his candidacy today, hours before hearings were to start to determine if he could be included on the ballot.

Halpin issued a statement that read:

"(T)he realities of entering the race at this relatively late stage, including the financial and legal hurdles I’d have to leap in order to win, have forced me to reassess my intention to run at this time."

What may have also forced Halpin to reassess his intention to run? Possibly forged petitions he filed. Halpin submitted 17,000 signatures to be included on the ballot, but he was one of four candidates to have submitted petitions allegedly with the forged notary of Aurora notary public Maricela Rodriguez. Halpin asked election attorney Burt Odelson, who seems to be popping up everywhere related to ballot contesting, to help him file the withdrawal papers.

Halpin's renting of Emanuel's Ravenswood home and his refusal to leave said home is at the center of the many residency challenges to Emanuel's inclusion on the ballot. In other mayoral campaign news, Board of Elections officials said they would remove Jay Stone, M. Tricia Lee and Ryan Graves from the ballot. Lee's removal is beneficial for Emanuel, as he moves up a slot behind Danny Davis on the ballot.