Does Rahm Know What He's Getting Into?

If Rahm Emanuel wants to be a successful mayor, he better be prepared to invest years of his life building a network within Chicago's political system.

With Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announcing that he won’t run for reelection, everyone is anticipating that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will announce his intention to run for the job. (He said he wanted it back in April). If Emanuel wishes to be as powerful as Daley though, he better be prepared to invest years of his life accumulating clout within Chicago’s local political system.

Legally, Chicago has a “weak” mayoral system. The power of the purse-strings rests with the Chicago City Council, a body of 50 aldermen representing different wards of the city. If “Mayor Emanuel” parachutes into the city, he will need to be ready to deal with the interests of 50 aldermen who have no personal loyalty to him.

But of course the Daleys have in fact been strong mayors.  One of the secrets of their power?  The ability to put the notorious dishonesty of Chicago politicians to their own use.

Chicago law empowers the mayor to appoint aldermen if vacant seats appear on the city council. This allows the mayor to create incumbents who can have an advantage in elections.

Vacancies occur often – in large part due to law enforcement.  In the past 36 years, 30 sitting or former Chicago aldermen have been convicted of corruption or other crimes.

Of the council’s fifty current members, Daley has appointed nineteen. Aldermen are also appointed to replace individuals who leave the council to accept another mayoral appointment – as a judge say or within the “Mayor’s Office of Special Events.”

It’s patronage that runs Chicago – and building a patronage network may take more time than the impatient Emanuel cares to spend.