Treasurer pick completes Daley's rainb
October 27, 2006
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
If Mayor Daley seeks the sixth term he needs to become Chicago's longest-serving mayor, he'll be running on a rainbow ticket with two brand new running mates.
The clean sweep was completed Thursday when incumbent city Treasurer Judy Rice resigned and was promptly replaced by political newcomer and municipal finance expert Stephanie Neely.
Earlier this month, Daley appointed state Sen. Miguel del Valle to replace convicted city Clerk Jim Laski.
A graduate of the University of Chicago Lab School and Smith College, with an MBA from the University of Chicago, Neely is vice president for institutional sales for Northern Trust Global Investments.
"I am humbled and truly honored. ... I love Chicago, and I want to give something back to the city. Now I can make a real contribution by bringing the knowledge and skills I acquired in the private sector to the city treasurer's office," Neely, 43, told a City Hall press conference.
Rice said she decided to resign as treasurer -- and accept a job on Daley's staff -- because elective office was taking too much time from a family that's "growing older and needs more of my time." Her father, former Chicago Police Supt. Fred Rice, is seriously ill, sources said.
"I haven't been able to give them the attention they deserve -- and another political campaign would require even more time away from them. Once I decided not to seek re-election, it seemed best for the office and for the people ... that I step down sooner rather than later," Rice said.
'Where has democracy gone?'
The surprise resignation four months before the election infuriated U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a possible mayoral challenger. It enabled Daley to fill the $135,545-a-year job by appointment and Neely a chance to get a leg up on the competition.
"Where has democracy gone? The mayor has now appointed the city clerk, the city treasurer and 29 of the 50 aldermen. Depending on the outcome of the county election in two weeks, he might soon also appoint new aldermen in the 7th, 8th and 18th wards. ... Why not wait until the election and let the people decide through an open democratic process?" Jackson said.
With the Neely-for-Rice shuffle, the mayor's revamped ticket is now complete. All that's left is for Daley to declare his candidacy. But don't hold your breath.
"I have not decided. Todd Stroger is running for president of the Cook County Board. Gov. Blagojevich is running for [re-election]. ... You identify one election at a time. You don't start jumping [to] another election," he said.
Even so, Daley's campaign manager is telling Democratic ward bosses the mayor's nominating petitions will be ready Nov. 3 -- and that Daley will be relying on committeemen to circulate them.
fspielman@suntimes.com
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