Readers tell Brown what they think about Emanuel’s residency controversy

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Updated: May 4, 2011 4:46AM

The mayoral candidates soldiered on Wednesday, but let’s face it, this race is on hold until the Illinois Supreme Court tells us whether Rahm Emanuel gets to run.

Seems like the perfect time for another edition of “What Can Brown Do For You?”

“Residency is all about intent? Oh, yeah? I have to sign an affidavit affirming my actual physical residence within the borders of the city limits or risk getting fired. They tell me to shove my intent. I must lie my head here. And if I have a wife and children in a house in Park Ridge, I better not get caught staying overnight with them. Residency is a condition of my employment, just not, apparently, for those who would take my pension away after he or she is anointed as the heir to the Daley throne. I retire in 2.5 years. If I still have a pension by then, you can bet I will be spending it in some other state. When I leave, I will tape a picture of Daley to the side of my car, and when someone asks ‘Who is that?’ I will move there.”--Dennis Mushol

I know better than to get drawn into an argument with a city worker about a legal distinction between residency for employees and political candidates, so let me just say instead that I really like the idea about taping the picture of Mayor Daley to the car and going for a drive. That could make a good column.

“You’re right on the Rahman residency issue but consider two indirectly related issues: (1) Unlike all your other examples, Rahm Emanuel failed to maintain a residence he could use in Chicago -- i.e. he rented out his house. Personally, I think that’s irrelevant. However, the related issue that I find most interesting is why would a guy who is supposed to be a very smart politician (and worth millions) jeopardize his local political eligibility for the sake of a few bucks of rental income? The adage “penny wise and pound foolish” is my conclusion. (2) Rahm Emanuel’s campaign chest has been funded largely by non-locals. If Rahm is so good for Chicago, why is so much of his funding coming from sources outside Chicago? He himself may not be a carpetbagger, but he sure seems to be funded by carpetbaggers.”--Phil Adams

I’m publishing Phil’s entire letter because I believe this is the first time he ever said I was right about anything. As to why Emanuel rented out the house, that remains the $16 million question ($16 million being Emanuel’s reported earnings during his three-year stint in the private sector.) Emanuel says he rented the house on the suggestion of a real estate agent who advised that was safer than leaving it empty, but we all know that overlooks other options, such as bringing in a housesitter or renting to friends at a reduced rate. I don’t know why Emanuel can’t just bring himself to admit he was cheap and wanted the money.

“I remember a few years back when the Republicans, I think, were looking for a candidate to unseat or run against someone, I can’t remember who, brought in a guy from Virginia. I think it was Virginia. His name was Alan something. The Republicans tried to talk Mike Ditka and Orion Samuelson to run and they refused. This guy set up residency in Hyde Park or somewhere close. My question is: how was this guy able to get on the ballot? Was this a state thing, or am I losing my mind?”--Tim O’Reilly

I don’t know if this inquiry falls under the category of How Quickly We Forget or You’re Pulling My Leg, Right? But I’ll bite.

To refresh your recollection, when Illinois Republicans needed to find a U.S. Senate candidate in 2004 after nominee Jack Ryan hastily withdrew from the ballot, they ended up recruiting Alan Keyes, a conservative commentator from Maryland, to take his place against some guy named Obama.

Keyes took an apartment in Calumet City to fulfill the slim requirement of the U.S. Constitution that a senator “when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.” The one-year residency requirement for municipal office in Illinois does not extend to the U.S. Senate.

“The decision [knocking Emanuel off the ballot] in my opinion is an excellent time to remind people that the voters are disenfranchised every election by arcane rules keeping candidates off the ballot. Emanuel deserves no special consideration due to his wealth or influence or service to the country. No one cares when a nobody nobody sent is kicked off.”--Jeff Bevan

Actually, he does get special consideration for his service to the country. It’s in the law. But in all other respects, Jeff is quite correct.