A Change in Perspectives

Earlier this week, the current Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, announced his decision to forgo another attempt at a term beginning in 2011. He cited his and his family's desire to begin a "new phase of our lives". Daley's legacy will be remembered as a period of time where Chicago refined its areas physically and economically to benefit the entire city.

While I do believe that his announcement was surprising, what I found shocking were the comments of Chicagoans about the Mayor's decision, especially by high-ranking officials and critics. According to a CBS poll, the reaction towards Daley's announcement was very mixed. Some believe that Daley is one of Chicago's greatest leaders, while others say that his legacy will be based upon many controversial issues. Despite many critical responses from the general public, the figures of most prominence in the city are praising of his duty. His greatest critics over the years, ones that questioned his economic decision-making among other topics, were swift to respond to Daley's decision with the utmost acclaim. At first, this stunned me, because I believed that they would point out the Mayor's faults in front of a larger audience. But then I connected this "change in perceptions" to one we talked about in class a week ago, that for positions in politics, a candidate is always campaigning for votes.

Alderman Edward Burke later stated that "all you wanna-be mayors, I guess you better run out and get your petitions." This quote perfectly sums up the stances of many of Daley's critics. They realize that in order to run for this position, they must garner votes effectively. Admiring and appreciating the successor is a very proficient way to gain the respect of the public. While is might seem superficial, especially coming from his opposition in the past, it is paramount to get the public's votes during the election. While over a year away, these state officials know that every solitary comment or move has broader implications towards the future.