March 3, 2003

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley won a fifth term February 26 by the election rout solidifying his standing as one of the most popular politicians Chicago has ever seen, the Associated Press reported. Mayor Daley's father, Richard J. Daley, was mayor for 21 years, from 1955 to 1976.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that, by winning, Daley set the stage to break his father's record as Chicago's longest'serving mayor.

Daley, 60, must win another term in 2007. He has won 14 of 15 elections over the last 23 years, and a dozen straight since a loss in 1983 to the late Harold Washington in that year's Democratic mayoral primary.

Since Daley has taken office, the cities of New York and Los Angeles have imposed term limits of eight years.

The Sun-Times also reported that, as far as tenure is concerned, "Daley is following in the footsteps of Milwaukee's mayoral iron men. The late Daniel W. Hoan reigned as mayor from 1916 through 1940 and the late Henry Maier served as mayor from 1960 through 1988. Both Hoan and Maier were Presidents of the Conference of Mayors during their years in office.

Daley ended his campaign by winning 79 percent of the vote and, for the first time in his electoral track record, winning a majority of the black vote.

During his 14 years in office, Daley has been given credit for a long list of accomplishments. These include improving public schools and public housing, revitalizing the downtown, and, on a building spree, directing the construction of new schools, libraries and police stations. In another widely praised initiative, Daley spearheaded beautification efforts, putting flowers in the medians of boulevards and replacing chain-link fences with wrought iron.