Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel abandons quest for third term
CHICAGO — Rahm Emanuel, whose tumultuous tenure as Chicago mayor included an infamous police shooting and a surge in violent crime, said in a surprise announcement Tuesday that he would abandon his plan to seek a third term next year but gave no reason for the sudden change of heart.
Emanuel also led the effort to conduct the largest mass closing of neighbourhood schools in American history and is credited with helping to stabilize the city’s finances through politically unpopular increases in taxes and fees.
The 58-year-old former White House chief of staff known for his pugnacious political style said only that he and his wife “look forward to writing that next chapter in our journey together.”
“This has been the job of a lifetime, but it is not a job for a lifetime,” the mayor said, reading prepared remarks at a news conference where he was joined at the podium by his wife. He held her hand throughout the announcement.