Free & Equal Inc. Ready for Chicago Mayoral Election

Petitioning starts soon for Chicago’s Mayoral election, to be held February 22nd. Unlike his father, who held office for life, current Mayor Richard M. Daley has decided not to seek re-election this year. Political hatchetman Rahm Emanuel has announced his intention to run for the office. Free & Equal Inc. is ready to assist a number of challengers for the seat, in gaining access to the ballot. Please contact Christina Tobin at (312) 320-4101 for more information.

Nomination for Mayor of Chicago requires collecting at least 12,500 valid signatures from registered voters in the City of Chicago. The deadline for filing signatures is November 22nd.

Last year, Free & Equal Inc. collected signatures for 14 candidates running in the primary for various offices in the State of Illinois. Of those, nine survived the notoriously corrupt challenge process, four did not, and one withdrew to run as an independent.

Free & Equal Inc.’s sister organization, The Free and Equal Elections Foundation, is working to replace the outdated, confusing and arbitrary challenge process with a $500 filing fee in lieu of signatures. Filing fees are used successfully in many states, generating revenue rather than draining public coffers with labor-intensive petition reviews and challenges. At least one Illinois state legislator has expressed interest in sponsoring such a bill.

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