CHICAGO — Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel won't have much time to celebrate his victory as Chicago's new mayor.
He takes control of a city in deep financial trouble with problems ranging from an understaffed police department to underperforming schools.
Emanuel, who won 55 percent of the vote Tuesday, must figure out a way to balance a budget that could be a half billion dollars in the red next year. The city also has a woefully underfunded pension system. Emanuel has remained vague about budget cuts, but he may be headed for a showdown with public employee unions over pension changes.
The City Council also has made clear it will demand more authority after years of domination by the retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Emanuel takes office May 16.
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