Why Doesn't Chicago have Mayor Term Limits? (sales, sales tax)

[maxwellimus]

Does anyone know why Chicago, out of all the big cities in the US, is the only city without Mayor Term Limits?

And also, how would you start voicing opinions on the subject? Have people done so before? Has there ever been a ballot vote on this?

[Lookout Kid]

For a long time the mayor of Chicago controlled the political machine that ran the state. And of course, the head of this machine wouldn't want term limits placed on himself!

The state machine seems to have decentralized leadership these days (thus the huge infighting), so "Hizzoner da Mare" doesn't have the same control over state politics he once had. But I imagine there are still a lot of State Senators and State Assemblymen who are hesistant to provoke Daley if they don't have to.

[maxwellimus]

And that's a good reason to not bring up the subject of term limits?

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

And that's a good reason to not bring up the subject of term limits?

You can bring it up all you want...welcome to Chicago. LOL. Things are "different" here. It only has the illusion of a democracy.

[maxwellimus]

I don't get these responses. They sound hopeless and content with the current situations. Does anyone know how to provide discussion to this topic on a higher level that will provoke action?

[via chicago]

Look at it this way, we do have term limits if the people so choose. Its called elections. The last time around Daley won 87% of the vote without even trying. You can take that however you want.

[LIS123]

The previous post is 100% correct. The presence or absence of formal term limits is of little importance in light of the fact that the voters of Chicago have the right to 'change the management' if they vote accordingly. It's almost like why would Daley and his cronies not screw over citizens if they're going to get re-elected anyways? Every time yo blink, something is being raised, be it sales tax, property tax, fees/fines, etc. It's not going to get better anytime soon with the same machine in place.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Look at it this way, we do have term limits if the people so choose. Its called elections. The last time around Daley won 87% of the vote without even trying. You can take that however you want.

Exactly. If people aren't happy with the job Daley is doing he'll get voted out. While everyone has at least a few issues with Daley, he is well liked overall and people think he is doing a good job. I think we may see changes at the County and State level in the next elections, but Daley is pretty safe.

There is talk in NYC of extending term limits so Bloomberg can run again, he's been a good mayor so why not let him continue?

[j33]

I can see both sides of the issue. There is definitely a huge part of me that feels like Daley has outlived his usefulness, and needs to go, but why not vote him out. We are all quite capable of not voting for the guy, nobody is holding a gun to our head making us vote for him. I do think it is pathetic that those who have run against him have been so inept that Daley doesn't even have to actively campaign and he receives over 80% of the vote (although I do recall seeing a couple of campaign commercials for him in the last election). I think that Daley would be a better mayor, and the city a better place, if there were potential mayoral candidates that actually would give him a run for his money, and make him concerned about keeping his job.

[noid_1985]

>Daley will die in office<