Tenant drops out of Chicago mayor race

CHICAGO, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The businessman who refused to end his lease to let Rahm Emanuel back into his Chicago home dropped his own mayoral bid Monday.

Emanuel resigned as President Barack Obama's chief of staff to run for Chicago mayor and had planned to move back into his North Side home, but Rob Halpin refused to break his lease and then announced he too would be running for mayor.

However, questions were raised last week about the validity of the petition signatures Halpin submitted to get on the ballot. Halpin issued a statement Monday saying he was dropping out of the race because he had failed to raise enough money to finance the run, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times reported.

"As of today, I am officially ending my candidacy for mayor. It is my sincere hope that, as a city, we come together to address the difficult choices ahead," Halpin said in his statement.

That leaves 15 candidates, down from 20, still on the ballot, including Emanuel and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun.

Halpin is among those challenging Emanuel's candidacy, alleging he cannot run because he has not lived in the city for the last year as required by law. Emanuel has said he voted absentee while serving as chief of staff, preserving his residency.

During a hearing Monday, attorney Burt Odelson argued Emanuel cannot run because he did not buy city stickers for his cars during his Washington tenure. Odelson said anyone who owes the city money must be disqualified, WLS-AM, Chicago, reported.

Chicago residents are required to buy windshield stickers annually.

WLS said since Emanuel came back to Chicago to run, he has purchased a sticker for his car.

The at-large election to replace retiring Richard M. Daley is scheduled for Feb. 22.