To Be or Not To Be the Mayor of Chicago, That is the Question

I haven't lived in or near Chicago for a long time. Which may explain my ignorance as to why the job is so wildly popular. They have to balance their budgets don't they? They have public schools just as bad as any others in the country, right? Their public employee unions are just as out of control as any others, isn't that true? And yet there are many seeking the job and many trying to keep Rahm Emmanuel off the ballot. In fact, the last quit his good job in Washington DC just to go home to Chicago to run for mayor. Does it pay a lot? Do they stuff ballot boxes easier in Chicago than any other city? Does the mayor's job have a Get-Out-of-Jail Card that comes with the office? Are the perks pretty good? The pension out of sight? I am honestly puzzled.