Teamsters Joint Council 25 Endorses Rahm Emanuel for Chicago Mayor

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Jan 25, 2011, 02:43 ET

Coli: State Courts Must Stop Playing Games, Voters Should Decide Election

CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters Joint Council 25 endorsed Rahm Emanuel today for Chicago mayor, citing extensive polling that indicates majority support from union members and city residents.

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"After extensive outreach to our members who live and work in Chicago, it's clear Rahm Emanuel is the choice for Teamsters in Chicago," said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. "We're ready to support his candidacy at all costs and ensure Chicago gets the mayor we urgently need."

Just one day prior to the Teamsters' endorsement, Emanuel's candidacy faced a significant challenge when Illinois' appellate court ruled he did not meet residency requirements to remain on the ballot. Emanuel had previously won two rulings on the matter—before the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and a Cook County judge.

Joint Council 25 acknowledged multiple polls it commissioned, as well as several others conducted by Chicago media outlets and other mayoral candidates, as clear indications of Emanuel's validity as a leading candidate.

"Likely voters have already made it clear they are behind Rahm Emanuel and are ready to elect him as the next mayor of Chicago," said Coli. "The courts should not be playing games with what the majority of Chicagoans obviously want, with what our members have told us they want."

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women across Illinois and Indiana, including 30,000 members who live and work in Chicago.

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 25