In exactly two weeks, we will be glued to the television (or internet!) waiting for election results. Until then, we'll be right here talking about debate debacles, big paychecks, unsavory connections and more.
Stay tuned to HuffPost Chicago from now until February 22 for "The Countdown," a daily roundup of election news, gossip and other fun tidbits. You can also sign up to receive "The Countdown" via email daily by checking the "Chicago Brief" box here.
CHICO'S TWISTED TIES
The ever-vigilant Chicago News Cooperative's Early and Often is reporting today that Gery Chico has deeper ties than previously believed to a sham business and its convicted owner. Azteca Supply Co. was run by Aurora Venegas, and won city contracts with its preferential minority-owned business status. But authorities believe the firm was little more than a sham front, with contractors getting credit for using a minority- and woman-owned business, and Venegas then contracting the work out to other businesses. The CNC reports on Chico's connection to Azteca and Venegas:
Chico and his law partner, Marcus Nunes, did much more than help Venegas' Azteca Supply Co. with its city minority-owned business status.
In 2004, the Chico & Nunes LLP firm reported to the city ethics board that Chico represented Azteca in "negotiations regarding the award/administration" of a contract with the city's Water Management Department.
And in 2008, in registering as a lobbyist for Azteca, Nunes disclosed that he expected to promote the company with city Water Management and Transportation Department officials, as well as with the Daley administration's Procurement Department, which at that time regulated companies that enjoy preferential minority-business status.
The campaign denies that Chico or his firm knew that Azteca was breaking the law, and "believes the sentence she received was deserved." Read the full CNC article (if you're a subscriber) here.
RAHM'S PIZZA LOVE
The Sun-Times asked Rahm Emanuel a series of questions about his favorite things in Chicago. Since we are obsessed with food, we'll just share the foodie bits: he likes pizza from Spacca Napoli, Wiener's Circle is his late-night food vice and Glenn's Diner is his favorite Chicago restaurant.
He got mushy about his wife, Amy as well. Pretty adorbs. Read the whole thing here.
DEL VALLE: IT'S NOT OVER YETMiguel del Valle is not admitting defeat when it comes to the city's controversial parking meter lease deal. While other candidates have spoken out against the 75-year, $1.15 billion privatization deal, most have all but given up on the issue.
But Tuesday, del Valle said there was a loophole the city could use to challenge the deal. NBC Chicago reports:
"Today, I'm calling attention of another route to redoing the contract," Del Valle said.
"Specifically the city's ethics code. If bidding companies don't register as lobbyists ... the city has a right to void the contract. Morgan Stanley did not register."
He said his team would continue to look at ways to repeal the contract and if elected would make it a top priority.
"As mayor, I would do everything in my power to change the contract," he said. "Chicagoans deserve answers and deserve to know how the contract came to be."
Oh, and in more parking meter news, the city won't have to pay back the revenues lost when they suspended meter enforcement for five days last week due to the blizzard. We are glad we drove around all week, shouting from our windows: "Don't pay that! You are off the hook until Monday!"
We showed them!
TWEETS OF THE DAY
@BorowitzReport: Rahm Emanuel gives "Chicago Code" the thumbs up: "It made me want to live there."
@matthewsm1th: Gery Chico thinks that as mayor, he'd solve the nation's banking problems and fix immigration reform. Does he know what a mayor does? #CNDA
If you have any juicy gossip about the Chicago elections, or a story you think we should see, send us an email at chicago@huffingtonpost.com.