Rahm Emanuel Defends Chicago Residency
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel on Friday addressed questions about whether his time living in Washington, D.C. means he's not a Chicago resident qualified to run for mayor.
Emanuel says voters don't care about the issue, which he says is irrelevant anyway. Some opponents have questioned whether his time spent in Washington as President Obama's chief of staff makes him ineligible to run for a municipal election in Illinois.
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"I have raised my kids here in the city of Chicago," he said. "I own a home in the city of Chicago. I pay property taxes in the city of Chicago."
Emanuel was speaking after getting the endorsement Friday from unionized plumbers and pipe fitters.
He said 90,000 people signed his nominating petitions and they deserve to vote for him.
Election attorney Burt Odelson has reportedly said he intends to file a challenge to Emanuel's residency next week.
State law requires mayoral candidates to be residents for a year before Election Day. Emanuel left the White House in October. The city's election Feb. 22. He maintained a home in Chicago, which he had been renting since he left for the White House.
