Mayor Emanuel Taps CTA Boss As His Next Chief Of Staff
(CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel will have a new chief of staff to start his second term next month: Forrest Claypool, the man who put in charge of the CTA.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the mayor's gain could be bus and train riders' loss.
That's because the last four years have seen the most aggressive renovation and modernization effort ever.
Claypool's departure comes at a time when future projects and service are threatened by Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget cuts.
Emanuel says he chose Claypool, the man he'd trusted to modernize mass transit, as his right hand man at City Hall because he's "somebody not only dedicated to public service but with an impeccable record of accomplishment in every position he has ever had."
Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, agrees Claypool has a pretty "impressive track record" at the CTA for the past three years.
Claypool and CTA union members did not always see eye to eye, but negotiations ultimately led to a contract and budget that protected fares and service.
Msall says Claypool's relationships from his time spent as both elected official and appointee will help the mayor in delicate negotiations over pension payments, pension reform and the CPS budget crisis.
"There's not a more influential position in the admin than s chief of staff," Msall says. "It's important to keep the trains running on time but also important to keep the city operating."
