Countdown to Rahmageddon: A New Wrinkle in the Residency Challenges

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 13, 2010 2:44PM

As the hearings into the challenges regarding Rahm Emanuel's residency continue, a new development could lend further credence to those challenges.

Amended tax records filed the day the first formal residency challenges were filed with the city Board of Election Commissioners list Emanuel as a "part-year resident" who was last lived in Chicago through last June. Compounding matters, the tax records list as Emanuel's permanent address the West town condo he currently rents, and not the Ravenswood home currently occupied by Rob Halpin.

Emanuel said that the tax form was amended to "(make) clear that (his family) were full-year residents of Illinois in 2009 and it reports all of our income." Election attorney Burt Odelson, one of the main opponents to Emanuel's residency, said he intends to question Emanuel about the amended tax forms during the former White House Cief of Staff's time on the stand tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Emanuel unveiled an education program yesterday, if he is elected Mayor. Emanuel said he plans on raising a fund to reward schools for high performance by involving parents, training teachers and improving school results; sign five-year contracts with principals holding them accountable for the performance of their schools; and work with teachers and educational non-profits to extend the school day and school year, and expand early childhood educational programs.

Gery Chico, who once was President of the Chicago Board of Education, said Emanuel's plan was "as light as cotton candy."