
<p>Chicago will not be electing a mayor this week – and at least that is not likely. ; The upcoming election will determine which two candidates will face off in a runoff election. ; </p>



<p>It is almost certain that Paul Vallas – former head of the Chicago and Philadelphia school systems &#8212; will be one of them. ; He leads the pack, according to recent polls, with a 32 percent plurality. ; The other contenders are in the teens or single digits.</p>



<p>The closest to Vallas is Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson at 18 percent. ; It is notable that incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in third place with 13 percent. ; If that holds up, she will be out … out … out. ; That would give her yet another unique accomplishment. ; She is the third black mayor, the second woman, and the first lesbian. ; If Lightfoot is knocked off in round one, she will be the first incumbent not to be on the ballot in the final round. ; ;</p>



<p>Odds makers and pundits are predicting that Lightfoot will lose.  ; Chicago-based Democrat strategist David Axelrod predicts it will be Vallas and Johnson in the runoff. ; I would take that one step further. ; Lightfoot deserves to lose.</p>



<p>I have been involved in Chicago politics – as a campaign advisor, political activist, civic leader and even as a candidate – since my high school days. ; I would declare Lightfoot to be the most incompetent mayor in my lifetime.</p>



<p>I would say the “worst” mayor, but that would depend on what is being judged. ; In my own opinion, the worst mayor in my lifetime was “da boss,” Richard J. Daley. ; I pick him because his racist policies have left a continuing tragic impact on the Windy City. ; </p>



<p>While he was not personally the most corrupt mayor, he allowed unprecedented corruption on his watch – and was too tolerant of organized Crime. ; He is the Mayor that Martin Luther King traveled north to confront. ; He is the mayor of the “police riot” outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention – and yelling an anti-Semitic profanity at Connecticut Senator Abraham Ribicoff.  ; But … I digress.</p>



<p>Not only is Lightfoot inept and incompetent, but she is also tone dear. ; </p>



<p>She seems to be oblivious of Chicago&#8217;s enormous crime problem. ; She does not seem to see the exodus of citizens and businesses – much less doing anything about it. ; </p>



<p>Like Nero fiddling as Rome burned, Lightfoot has shown a flare for the theatrical – karaoke singing, dancing and adorning costumes. (The photo of Lightfoot atop this commentary is her at a press conference regarding Covid-19.) ; She seems to be a manifestation of a clown character on the old Mary Tyer Moore Show, whose theme phrase was “a little song … a little dance … a little seltzer down your pants.”</p>



<p>We will soon learn if the Lightfoot show will be closed down for lack of audience appreciation. ; We can only hope.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Deserves to be Retired
