Mayor Daley

Mayor Daley, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced Tuesday he will not run for reelection in 2011, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

During a brief news conference at City Hall, the mayor said he would not run for reelection:

“The truth is that I’ve been thinking about this in recent months,” Daley said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “Ultimately this is a personal decision, nothing more nor less.” (WATCH Daley announced and read a full transcript of his speech here.)

Daley approval ratings have fallen in recent years. A Tribune poll earlier this summer found only 37 percent of voters approved the City job Daley was doing as mayor. However, his decision could be linked to his wife’s battle with cancer.

Maggie Daley was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002, doctors found that Spring spread to his liver and lung. She also underwent surgery in March of bone cancer in his leg, the Sun-Times reports.

Chicago NBC reports that Maggie Daley, who attended Tuesday’s announcement, smiled when he informed the media of his plans were not implemented.

“It feels good.” Daley said Tuesday, adding that the time to move is now. ”

The 68-year-old Democrat has been mayor of Chicago since 1989 – and this year 21 years in office. His father, Richard J. Daley, died of a heart attack in 1976 at age 74 during his 21 years in office.

“No mayor in the United States has ever loved a city more or serves a community with greater passion than Rich Daley. He helped create the image of Chicago as a world class city, and leaves a legacy of achievement that can be seen for generations to come. ”

“Wow, wow,” Alderman. Edward Burke said after learning of the announcement of Daley. “So all you aspiring mayors, I think you better run out and get their requests.”

In January, Rahm Emanuel in the headlines after saying he wanted to be mayor of Chicago one day. Later, Daley urged to run again – but that did not stop people wonder: who else could be the mayor of Chicago?

With Tuesday’s announcement, the field is wide open – but time is of essence. The candidates only have until November 22 to file nominating petitions for the February 22 nonpartisan primary.

Take a look at some potential candidates for mayor here. This list will probably grow after Daley announced Tuesday.

Rahm Emanuel, said earlier this year that “one day I would like to run for mayor of Chicago.” Did you expect Daley not run in 2011? I doubt it. But he still has time to throw his name into the hat.