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Chicago Man Wants Kanye West for Mayor

Hyde Park resident Ben Shepard publicly endorses Yeezus to lead the Windy City.

Should Kanye West be the next mayor of Chicago?

Yes, says one Windy City resident endorsing the bid. Ben Shepard wants Yeezus to take current mayor Rahm Emanuel's spot in next February's election. West, 36, was raised on Chicago's South Side. He isn't actually running for mayor, nor has he ever expressed a desire to work in politics, but that doesn't mean he's not up for the job. 

"Kanye West would certainly win," Shepard declared in an interview with the The Smoking Section, explaining his unofficial campaign. The city now known as "Chiraq" is in bad shape, due in part to the gun violence that earned it that nickname. According to Shepard, Yeezy can turn things around.

The 29-year-old Hyde Park resident pointed to some of West's tracks like "New Slaves" as an example of how his politics play into his "overall persona" including a "persistent anti-racism aspect." Shepard also thinks Ye's eye for design would be helpful in a mayoral seat. "He’s giving speeches to Harvard’s graduate school, he’s obsessed with the fashion industry, design, art and contemporary art, and that’s inspiring because one of the worst parts of the way Chicago’s being built now is all the design decisions are being made by conservative, suburban dads," Shepard said. 

To show his full support, the artist and graduate of Chicago University launched a website, Kanye4 Mayor.org. The site outlines why West is the perfect person to "lead a movement" to make his hometown "the best city in the world."  

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