State Legislators Hold Town Hall On Chicago Mayoral Recall Proposal
(CBS) -- More than 100 angry Chicagoans attended a town hall meeting Saturday hosted by the sponsors of a bill that could lead to the recall of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The rhetoric was often raw. One speaker called the mayor a criminal. Another said he should be in jail. The bill's author, State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), told them working to gain recall and unseat the mayor was a fight "against the odds." But at least, he said it is not a fight against Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).
"The good thing is the speaker is not working against me on this," Ford said. "But the speaker told me I have my work cut out for me and I have to get 71 votes, for sure."
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The bill requires 71 votes, instead of a simple majority, in order to supercede Chicago's home rule powers. Asked by WBBM how he expected to sell the bill to downstate lawmakers whose districts are hundreds of miles from Chicago, he said that mismanagement in Chicago affects the finances of every community in the state.
Ford said he is confident that the bill could be used to unseat Mayor Emanuel, if signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner, even though Rauner's own attorneys have questioned whether it could apply to the mayor sitting at the time it became law.
Ford and State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) had a difficult time keeping the overzealous crowd on the same page. Some called for aldermen, legislators and suburban local officials to be added to the bill and made subject to recall. But Ford said the simpler the bill, the better the chances for passage. Several times he told the crowd that "add ons" would come later.
Although Ford wants a simple bill, he also wants sophisticated marketing. Some ideas that appeared to gain traction included "Dump Rahm" songs, raps and concerts.
Ford said he was pleased by the level of enthusiasm in the crowd, and invited those who attended to return at 2 p.m. next Saturday, again at 4926 W. Chicago Av., not for a town hall meeting but for what he termed "a working session."
