JOHN J. LAG ATTORNEY AT LAW
5305 N. LARAMIE CHICAGO, IL. 60630 312 498-4341 JOHNJLAG@GMAIL.COM
April 8,2016
Hon. Susana A. Mendoza City Clerk, City of Chicago 121 N. LaSalle St., Rm. 107 Chicago, IL. 60602
Re: City Council proposed Ordinance
Dear Ms. Mendoza:
Enclosed you will find an amended proposed Ordinance that 1 have prepared and am sponsoring and wish to have placed on the Agenda and submitted to the City of Chicago City Council at their next meeting.
Please have the Ordinance assigned to the Committee on Committees, Rules and
Ethics.
MAYORAL ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
WHEREAS: The current Mayor of the City of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, has consistently and repetitively insisted upon accountability to the people of the City of Chicago for all public servants and elected officials; and,
WHEREAS: Under the existing Laws of the City of Chicago, there is no mechanism for the citizens of the Chicago to hold their Mayor accountable for performance on their behalf during the four year term of office; and,
WHEREAS: In response to and in support of the Mayor's constant insistence upon being held accountable to the People of Chicago; now, therefore,
Be it Ordained by the City Council of the City of Chicago:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are expressly incorporated in and made a part of this ordinance as though fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. The recall of the Mayor of Chicago may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors, who shall be registered voters in the City of Chicago, equal in number to at least 15% ofthe total votes cast for Mayor in the preceding Election. A petition shall have been signed by the petitioning electors not more than 60 days after an affidavit has been filed with the board of election commissioners providing notice of intent to circulate a petition to recall the Mayor. The affidavit may be filed no sooner than 12 months after the beginning of the Mayor's term of office. The affidavit shall have been signed by the proponent of the recall petition and who shall be a registered voter in the City of Chicago.
SECTION 3. The form of the petition, circulation, and procedure for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition shall be as provided by law. If the petition is valid and sufficient, the board of election commissioners shall certify the petition not more than 45 days after the date the petition was filed, and the question "Shall (name) be recalled from the office of Mayor?" must be submitted to the electors at a special recall election called by the board of election commissioners, to occur not more than 100 days after certification of the petition. A recall petition certified by the board of election commissioners may not be withdrawn and another recall petition may not be initiated against the Mayor during the remainder of the current term of office. Any recall petition or recall election pending on the date of the next election at which a candidate for Mayor is elected is void.
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SECTION 4. The Mayor is immediately removed upon certification of the special recall election results if a majority of the electors voting on the question vote to recall the Mayor.
SECTION 5. If the Mayor is so removed, then; (i) the Vice Mayor shall serve until a successor Mayor is duly elected and qualified either through Special Election or general municipal election; (ii) if the vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor with more than 28 months remaining in the mayoral term and at least 130 days before the next general municipal election, then a special election must be held to choose a new Mayor to serve out the remainder of the term at that general municipal election; (iii) if a vacancy occurs with less than 28 months remaining in the mayoral term or less than 130 days before the next general municipal election, then the acting Mayor serves as Mayor until the mayoral term expires.
SECTION 6. This ordinance shall be effective as of the date of its passage.
SPONSOR: JOHN J. LAG
Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics
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