I bet he is planning a run for Governor or Senate.
Nope, he's just smart enough to realize that he's too stoopid for those jobs. Plus he would get 0 votes from the Collar counties and downstate. There just aren't enough votes to be
stolen, made, errr had in Chicago alone. He wouldn't even fare very well in Suburban Cook County.
Best to retire and watch it all crumble for your successor. Secures your legacy, as in "We didn't have all these problems when Daley was Mayor."