The Daley Family Legacy

After 22 years, Mayor Richard M. Daley’s tenure is coming to an end.

Before he passes the office keys to mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, I thought it would be important to highlight the mayor’s accomplishments and shortfalls in a multi-media story for Metro Minutes.

Mayor Daley and his father, Richard J. Daley, are Chicago’s longest serving mayors. While his father died in office in 1979, the current Daley announced suddenly at a press conference held in September 2010 that he would be leaving office.

Because his father had ruled the city for 21 years, the son’s greatest challenge was to break away from his father’s image. He did so ultimately by reaching out to a wider variety of groups and coalitions within the city.

I had the honor of interviewing Columbia College Professor Dominic Pacyga, an award-winning author of six books related to Chicago’s history. He currently is working on a book about Daley family members that will include perspectives not only about their local power, but their national and international influence as well.

Richard J. Daley and his wife Eleanor had seven children—four boys and three girls. Pacyga talks about how each son was able to take on some component of their father’s qualifications by their choice of occupation.

Richard M. Daley’s fingerprints on Chicago will not disappear when Emanuel takes his place. Throughout his six terms, Daley tackled weighty issues such as public school education, crime, public housing and business development.

Pacyga points out that both Daleys built powerful political organizations with their long reigns over Chicago, and both had to deal with political corruption in their administrations. Both mayors, however, wound up with no evidence directly linking them to wrongdoing.

Mayor Daley was able to follow in his father’s footsteps, but also differentiate himself in his priorities and goals for the city of Chicago.

Come May 16, 2011, Chicago’s parking meter issues, budget deficits, pensions, public safety and public education problems will be the responsibility of a new mayor.