by Stacey Selleck, US Term Limits
Pat Quinn takes the fight to Rahm Emanuel’s Post
Former Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, is spearheading a grassroots effort to impose a two-term limit on the Chicago mayor, a position currently held by Rahm Emanuel. The effort, known as “Take Charge Chicago,” includes a petition drive to collect 53,000 signatures by August 8, 2016 in order to get the initiative on the ballot this November.
Quinn cites his dismay with Chicago insiders controlling the government as the impetus for the term limits referendum. The initiative also includes a separate petition to elect a newly created Chicago Consumer Advocate for taxpayers and consumers to replace a watchdog post currently appointed by the Mayor.
Quinn’s motivation is to bring tax relief, transparency, and accountability to the people of Chicago. “Incumbent Chicago mayors routinely outspend their challengers by millions of dollars reaped from lobbyists, corporations and billionaires,” states Quinn.
“The best way to achieve true campaign finance reform and end secrecy in City Hall is through mayoral term limits,” Pat Quinn former Governor of Illinois.
Previous citizen initiatives garnered success at the hands of Quinn including one that cut the Illinois House by one-third and another that imposed term limits on Illinois state officials before it was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court. Among his other anti-crony accomplishments, Quinn helped create a Citizens Utility Board and allowed the recall of Illinois governors.
If successful, the term limits initiative will be on the ballot on November 8th. It could put Rahm Emanuel out of office when he finishes his second term in 2019. The binding referendum calls for no more than two consecutive 4-year terms for the city’s highest elected post.
Chicago is the only city among the top 10 largest in the nation that still does not have term limits on its mayor.
