Quigley claims victory in race to replace Rahm Emanuel

Quigley claims victory in race to replace Rahm Emanuel
by John McCormick
April 8, 2009
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/04/mike-quigley-election-results-rahm-emanuel-rosanna-pulido-matt-reichel-5th-congressional-district.html


Democratic Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley claimed victory tonight in the 5th District race to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress.

With 94 percent of the Chicago and suburban Cook precincts reporting totals, Quigley was ahead with 70 percent of the vote over Republican Rosanna Pulido and Green Party candidate Matt Reichel.

Quigley told supporters at a North Side tavern that he knows he will initially be recognized in Washington as “the guy taking Rahm Emanuel’s seat,” but he promised to establish his own credentials, push for change and help tackle the nation’s problems. “We have our work cut out for us, but we’ll get it done, one day at a time,” he said.

Quigley, 50, essentially won the seat a month ago when he emerged from a field of a dozen Democrats in a special primary election where voter turnout was minimal.

He earned just 22 percent of the vote, but his strong name recognition from many high-profile battles in county government helped him bypass top competitors who had larger campaign funds and more union support.

The heavily Democratic district Quigley stands to inherit is an ethnically and culturally diverse territory that stretches from Lake Michigan to suburbs near O'Hare International Airport, encompassing blue-collar, bungalow-belt neighborhoods as well as more upscale Lincoln Park and Lakeview.

Since his primary win, Quigley has tried to improve his relations with union groups and has also traveled to Washington to meet with Democratic leaders, members of the Illinois delegation and others.

One thing he did not do is look for real estate. Quigley said he plans to return to Chicago virtually every weekend and plans to sleep on his office couch while in Washington.

But because of the district he represents, Quigley will have some important connections.

Emanuel, now the White House chief of staff, and President Barack Obama both called to congratulate him after his March primary win. The new congressman will continue to enjoy strong connections with both men because of his Chicago ties.

But with a busy schedule in recent days, Emanuel said he forgot to vote.

"After voting by absentee ballot in the primary, I realized earlier this week that I had failed to meet the deadline to apply for my absentee ballot for the general election," he said in a statement that was issued as he flew this afternoon from Iraq to Washington with Obama.

An April 21 swearing in ceremony is planned and Quigley will resign his county post in the coming days. His chief of staff, Kimberly Walz, is among several people asking Democratic leaders for the County Board appointment. You can read about that battle here.