Candidates and Public Officials React to Mayor Emanuel’s Decision Not To Run Again

The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, recently announced that he would not be pursuing a third term in office and dropped out of the 2019 mayoral election.
The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, recently announced that he would not be pursuing a third term in office and dropped out of the 2019 mayoral election.

Candidates and Public Officials React to Mayor Emanuel’s Decision Not To Run Again

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, recently announced that he would not be pursuing a third term in office and dropped out of the 2019 mayoral election. The unexpected news had public officials and mayoral candidates scrambling to assert their opinions through carefully crafted and succinct statements as quickly as possible.

“As much as I love this job and will always love this city and its residents, I have decided not to seek re-election. This has been the job of a lifetime, but it is not a job for a lifetime. You hire us to get things done and pass the torch when we’ve done our best to do what you hired us to do,” said Emanuel at a press conference to announce his exit from the 2019 Chicago mayoral race. “Together, since May of 2011, through thick and thin, we tried to do right by our city’s future. No matter how difficult the path, we never wavered or shrunk from our responsibilities. And I will never forget the honor it has been to serve alongside you the people of Chicago every step of the way.”

During the seven minutes it took for Emanuel to announce his departure from the position he has held for the last eight years, it seemed like the whole city went silent to listen.

Those seven minutes were about as long as the silence lasted before news sources across the city began reporting the information and public officials started releasing official statements regarding their opinions of the news.

Mayoral candidate and former Police Board President, Lori Lightfoot, held a press conference later that day to say that as far as her campaign is concerned, nothing has changed.

“This is undeniably big news, but it doesn’t change what we’re fighting for, and it doesn’t change the needs of people all across our city. We still live in a city where violence is far too prevalent, as we’ve seen in tragic weekend statistics,” said Lightfoot.

Even former President Barack Obama chimed in on behalf of Emanuel, his long-time friend and former colleague.

“As a mayor, a congressman, and my first White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel has been a tireless and brilliant public servant,” said President Obama.”Whatever he chooses to do next, I know he’ll continue to make a positive difference, just as he has throughout his career in public service.”

Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, released a statement saying that she, like everyone else, was surprised by the news.

“I want to thank [Mayor Emanuel] for leading our city for the past eight years and also for his service to the nation –his time in Congress and as Chief of Staff to President Obama. Being mayor of the nation’s third-largest city is extraordinarily difficult and all-consuming,” said Preckwinkle.

While officials weighed in on Emanuel’s decision to drop out of the race, details on who might be next to join an already crowded race for mayor had not been confirmed by the Citizen’s deadline.

The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, recently announced that he would not be pursuing a third term in office and dropped out of the 2019 mayoral election.

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