Rauner Says He Would 'Probably Sign' Mayor Recall Bill: Reports

Although he claims he hasn’t read the proposed bill to recall the Chicago mayor, Gov. Bruce Rauner said he would probably sign such legislation should it come to his desk.

Rauner commented on the growing Chicago police misconduct scandal and allegations of a coverup by his friend, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

“I am very disappointed in the mayor and the state’s attorney for Cook County,” Rauner told ABC-7 Chicago. “Very disappointed.”

The governor went on to say that a law to legalize a recall would not apply to the current mayor he would sign legislation allowing voters to recall the mayor of Chicago.

Illinois lawmakers are also said to be mulling over a bill to legalize a recall of the Chicago Mayor in their next session slated to begin this month.

Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (8th District) introduced HB 4356 last month the day Emanuel apologized to the Chicago City Council for the police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times as he walked away from officers in 2014. The officer who shot McDonald, Jason Van Dyke, has since been charged with first-degree murder.

According to Progress Illinois, under Ford’s proposal, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Flowers (31st District), the bill calls for the following procedures:

• A recall petition for the mayor could be submitted if the number of signatures equals at least 15 percent of the total number of votes in the preceding mayoral election
• At least 50 signatures from residents in each of the city’s 50 wards would be required on the recall petition
• A recall affidavit cannot be filed sooner than six months of the mayor’s first day in office
• At least two aldermen would need to sign onto the recall affidavit
• If the recall petition is found to be valid, the Board of Election Commissioners must certify it within 100 days, and a recall special election date must be scheduled no more than 100 days from the petition’s certification
• The mayor would be immediately removed from office after the results are certified by the Board of Election Commissioners if the majority of voters in the recall election opt for his or her ousting

In the event that a mayor is recalled, one of two scenarios would go into effect: “(i) the Vice Mayor shall serve until the Mayor elected at the special successor primary election or special runoff election is qualified and (ii) the candidate who receives a majority of votes in the special primary election or the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the special runoff election is elected Mayor for the balance of the term,” according to the bill. (Source: Progress Illinois)

Ford says he plans to hold town hall meetings in his district to get his constituents’ thoughts on expanding the bill to include other officeholders, Chicago AP reported.

Illinois state law currently addresses only the recall of a governor, a provision voters approved in 2010 after former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested and impeached.

Ford said, “It’s clearly the right thing to have on the books.”