About Rahm

62 years old

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Emanuel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts, and went on to receive an Master of Arts in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985. He has served in a number of political capacities as a fundraiser, campaign director, as well as senior advisor to President Bill Clinton before leaving politics to work in investment banking. In 2002, Emanuel ran and was elected to represent the 5th District of Illinois, a seat he held until resigning to become President Obama's White House Chief of Staff in 2008. He resigned this role in 2010 to run for Mayor of Chicago, and has sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago on May 16, 2011.

If re-elected, Emanuel promises to work towards graduating 85% of public school students by 2019, and expand wi-fi connections to every classroom in the system. Emanuel will triple the number of full-day pre-K programs from 100 classrooms to 300 classrooms by 2019 and ensure that every family is within three miles of a "quality" high school program.^[1]

If re-elected, Emanuel would add an additional 1000 police officers to city streets while creating a pilot program to equip patrol officers with body cameras. Emanuel has promised to expand the youth summer jobs program to effect 25,000 young people by 2018. He would also increase the "One Summer Plus" program enrolment number to 4,000 kids by 2015, regulate gun sales in the city and "closely review" applications for concealed carry permits.^[2]

No specific policy has been suggested in the party's current platform.

Emanuel raised the minimum wage in Chicago to $13 by 2019. Over the next four years, he will ensure that the ordinance is fully implemented.^[3]

If re-elected, Emanuel has promised a number of initiatives regarding community development including modernizing and expanding the city's public library system; ensuring every child is within 10 minutes of a park; continuing to eliminate food deserts; and expanding transit-oriented development. Emanuel would leverage $1.3 billion in public and private funds to "create, preserve, and rehabilitate 41,000 homes and apartments for public housing."^[3]

No specific policy has been suggested in the party's current platform.