chicago mayor

Rahm Emanuel declared victory in the race today, the mayor of Chicago.

"Thank you Chicago for this humble victory," smiles Emanuel told supporters. "All I can say, you sure know how to make a guy feel at home."

"It's easy to find differences, but we can never let them become subdivisions. Today we are moving forward in the only way to really can. Together. As a city with one future."

"It's you. This is a hardworking, plain-speaking people who share a love for their city and the resolve to keep it strong," he said. "I share this love, and I am sure with your help to meet our challenges head on and make a great city even greater."


Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and approval of the Chicago City Council, sign up department and agency leaders.

The Mayor appoints the Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department and Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. He is also responsible for appointing the heads of city departments, the largest of which are the Water Management Department (formed by the consolidation of the former Water Department and Sewer Department under Richard M. Daley) and the Streets & Sanitation Department. He additionally appoints members to the boards of several special purpose municipalities including the Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, et al. Under Richard M. Daley, the Illinois legislature granted the mayor power to appoint the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools and subordinated the district under the mayor's authority; the district had long been an independent political field.

The Mayor of Chicago is elected by popular vote every four years, on the last Tuesday in February. A run-off election, in the event no candidate garners more than fifty percent of the vote, is held on the first Tuesday in April. The election is held on a non-partisan basis. Chicago is the largest city in the United States of America not to limit the term of service for its mayor.
List of last 10 mayors
Name Term Party Notes
1 Edward Joseph Kelly 1933–1947 Democratic Act of the Illinois legislature permitted City Council to elect a non-alderman to fill the vacancy.
2 Martin H. Kennelly 1947–1955 Democratic
3 Richard J. Daley 1955–1976 Democratic Died in office
4 Michael Anthony Bilandic 1976–1979 Democratic
5 Jane Margaret Byrne 1979–1983 Democratic
6 Harold Washington 1983–1987 Democratic Died in Office
7 David Duvall Orr Nov. 25 – Dec. 2, 1987 Democratic 8 days, Interim Mayor
8 Eugene Sawyer 1987–1989 Democratic Elected by city council to complete Mayor Washington's term
9 Richard M. Daley 1989–2011 Democratic Longest serving mayor
10 Rahm Emanuel (elect) 2011- Democratic First Jewish mayor