Gutierrez, Jackson won't run for mayor

Gutierrez, Jackson won't run for mayor
By Dan Mihalopoulos and Gary Washburn
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
Published November 9, 2006, 12:05 PM CST


Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said today that he has decided not to challenge Mayor Richard Daley in the February 2007 election, citing his party's newly won control of the U.S. House and his wife's illness.

"I'm making a priority of my family and my mission in Congress," Gutierrez said at a news conference. "I just think it would be truly irresponsible of me at this point."

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has also decided not to run, sources told the Tribune. Jackson was scheduled to announce his decision this afternoon.

Two supporters close to Jackson said the congressman personally told them of his decision.

Jackson, who scheduled a news conference for today, declined to confirm his decision when reached by telephone.

"I don't want to scoop myself. Let me wait for [Thursday]," Jackson said.

Vincent Fry, a Jackson aide, said the Democratic takeover of the U.S. House added a new element for Jackson to consider as he ponders a mayoral run.

"The congressman has been out of power his entire career," Fry said, but the changed political landscape in Washington "is definitely something to add to the consideration of whether or not he runs for mayor."

Jackson's position as the only Illinois Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee will become more important to the state when the new Congress is seated, Fry said.

Daley has not announced his candidacy for the February election but is widely expected to seek his sixth term in office and held a fundraiser Wednesday evening.

The decisions of Jackson and Gutierrez leave only two announced candidates for mayor: Dorothy Brown, the clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, and Bill "Dock" Walls, a one-time aide to the late Mayor Harold Washington.

In September, Jackson had said there was a 75 percent chance that he would run in February. At the time, Jackson said he needed to register 100,000 new voters and raise between $4 million and $6 million. He also began working to recruit a slate of candidates for city clerk, city treasurer and about 15 City Council seats.

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley said he discussed running for citywide office with Jackson, but he said he decided not to do so for personal reasons. Quigley said "everyone agreed" that an effective challenge to Daley required forming an opposition slate of candidates.

"That's not going to happen," Quigley said.

Todd Stroger's successful run for Cook County Board president also was a positive for Daley. Stroger's margin of victory showed that Democratic power brokers "can still deliver," said a committeeman and Jackson supporter who asked not to be identified.

In the last two years, Jackson repeatedly has blamed Daley for corruption in his administration. Four Daley administration officials were convicted in July of charges stemming from an illegal patronage hiring scheme.

The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and has said he did not know of the hiring fraud.

"For Daley to have been really vulnerable, there would have had to be more movement in the investigations," a source close to Jackson said.

About 200 Daley supporters attended a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser Wednesday night at a Near South Side restaurant, the mayor's first fundraising event in three years. Earlier in the day, Daley told reporters that he has "worked very, very hard as mayor." Asked if he is "ready to roll" in February, Daley replied, "I am always ready to roll."

At the fundraiser, Daley declined to comment about Gutierrez and Jackson, except to say it is up to the two congressmen whether they want to run for mayor next year.

Earlier Wednesday, the City Council confirmed Daley's appointment of Miguel del Valle, a veteran state senator with a reputation for independence, to fill the vacant post of city clerk. If Daley runs as expected, del Valle's appointment will allow Daley to be part of a diverse ticket with a Latino running mate for clerk and an African-American, Stephanie Neely, for treasurer.

Del Valle said that one of his top priorities as clerk will be to broadcast City Council meetings via the Internet and to allow citizens to track the progress of proposed legislation on the clerk's Web site.

"Chicago should be on the cutting edge of transparency ... and I will work to make it happen," he said.

dmihalopoulos@tribune.com

gwashburn@tribune.com

Tribune staff reporter Laurie Cohen contributed to this report.

gwashburn@tribune.com

dmihalopoulos@tribune.com