Could Emanuel's Renter Be Running For Mayor?
CHICAGO (CBS) - Rob Halpin has already gained some attention as the man who is renting Rahm Emanuel's Chicago house, leading to questions about the likely mayoral candidate's residency.
But could Halpin soon be running for mayor against Emanuel? John Kass reports in the Chicago Tribune Wednesday morning that there is a push from local businessmen for Halpin to run.
Halpin, a businessman himself, tells Kass it was not his idea to run for mayor. He said the fellow businessmen approached him and "explained to me why they thought I'd be a good candidate and a good mayor."
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Kass reports that some of 19th Ward Republican leaders visited Halpin this past Sunday. James Parrilli, the Republican committeeman of the ward that includes the Beverly neighborhood, said Halpin "doesn't have any love for Rahm," and understands the needs "to create jobs and bring business back into the city."
While his name has not surfaced until now, Halpin drew attention in September when Emanuel reportedly asked him and his wife to move out of their Chicago house so the Emanuel family could move back in.
The couple said no. They extended their lease until next year just days before Mayor Richard M. Daley announced he wouldn't seek re-election and told Emanuel they don't want to leave, an Emanuel spokesman said at the time.
The fact that Emanuel spent most of his time in Washington until recently has led to questions about his eligibility to run for mayor.
Emanuel is registered to vote at the Ravenswood house now occupied by Halpin. Emanuel's car is also registered there. But candidates for mayor must maintain a city residence for one year, and some critics were quick to question whether Emanuel was really a resident of Washington, D.C. for the past several years.
The city's Board of Elections said at the time that Emanuel's residency was not in question.
"If you are a registered voter and continue to vote from your residence, you establish what we consider the intent to be a resident of the city of Chicago," Chicago Election Board Chairman Langdon Neal said in September.
