Lincoln Filed Petitions, Some Bearing Paw Prints

Chicago mayoral hopefuls stand in line to get on ballot

November 16, 2010

By Underdog and Pluto, City Hall Staff Reporters

The race for Chicago mayor is on.
Candidates were waiting in line to file their nominating petitions when the Chicago Board of Elections opened at 9 a.m. Monday.

Among the first to file to get on the ballot for the Feb. 22 election was Lincoln, first canine to run for mayor of Chicago who filed petitions bearing more than 92,000 voter signatures and paw prints. He immediately challenged his opponents to a series of "bark-offs," “as many as possible,” he proudly barked.
Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who filed petitions bearing more than 90,000 signatures, said she wants to have six bark-offs. She also thinks Lincoln is barking up the wrong tree.
Rahm Emanuel, former White House chief of staff for President Obama, filed 90,905 signatures was upset that he is running against a dog. "What the *$@#&%#@," Emanuel yelled.

Candidates have until next week to get their nominating petitions in. But those filing by 9 a.m. Monday qualified for a lottery that will be held to determine who gets the top spot on the ballot. Lincoln camped out in his heated dog house since Sunday night. Lincoln howled, "I will be Top Dog."

For the first time in Chicago history, the mayoral and aldermanic races are non-partisan. This opens up the campaign to all, including dogs and cats. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote Feb. 22, a runoff will be held April 9. Lincoln feels he has a great chance to be mayor especially since no cats are running.