“Together, as a city we have moved past our differences to reach real progress. We are Chicago. In my view, the greatest city on earth. For 38 years, I have been a public servant, for the last 21 yeas as mayor. From the beginning, I’ve been guided by one belief: that everyday I could do better for the people of Chicago.”
Mayor Richard M. Daley, Maggie Daley (front);
Sean Conroy, Nora Daley-Conroy, Elizabeth Daley, Patrick Daley (back row)
Photo By: Mayoral Photographer, Antonio Dickey
REMARKS OF MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Good afternoon.
I am here today to say what I hope you already know: I love Chicago. I love the I-Will spirit of the place. Most of all, I love the people.
Throughout this great city, in every neighborhood, on every block, there are people who give unselfishly, unbending in their determination, bold in the belief that they can make a difference.
And they have.
Together, as a city, we have moved past our differences to reach real progress.
We are Chicago. In my view, the greatest city on earth.
For 38 years, I have been a public servant, for the last 21 years as mayor.
From the beginning, I’ve been guided by one belief: that everyday I could do better for the people of Chicago.
I have always known that people want you to work hard for them. Clearly, they won’t always agree with you. Obviously, they don’t like it when you make a mistake. But at all times, they expect you to lead, to make difficult decisions, rooted in what’s right for them.
For 21 years, that’s what I’ve tried to do.
But today I am announcing that I will not seek a 7th term as Mayor of the City of Chicago.
Simply put, its time.
Time for me. And time for Chicago to move on.
Improving Chicago has been the ongoing work of my life. And I have loved it.
There has been no greater privilege or honor than serving as your mayor.
Working alongside seasoned professionals, incredibly committed business and community leaders and some of the most dedicated public employees you will ever meet, I have had the opportunity to expand, build, create, unite and compromise for the betterment of Chicago.
And I am deeply grateful to the people of this great city, more grateful than I can fully express.
I’ve given it my all. I’ve done my best.
Now, I’m ready with my family to begin the next phase of our lives.
In the coming days, I know there will be some reflecting on my time as mayor. Many of you will search to find what’s behind my decision.
It’s simple.
I have always believed that every person, especially public officials, must understand when it is time to move on.
For me, that time is now.
The truth is that I’ve been thinking about this for the last several months.
And in the last several weeks, I’ve been increasingly comfortable with my decision.
It just feels right.
In closing, I want to thank my family for their ongoing love and support. Without it, I could not have done this.
And again, to the thousands of Chicagoans who have worked side-by-side with me everyday to confront our challenges, to improve the lives of people and make this city stronger, I thank you.
I could not have done it without you.
In the end, this is a personal decision. No more.
No less.
For the next 7 months, I assure you that I will work as hard as I have for the past 21 years for all the people of Chicago.
Thank you.