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Garry McCarthy

Age: 54

Occupation: Superintendent, Chicago Police Department

Dropping rates of homicide and overall crime (down 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively, in 2013) pushed the top cop’s rank up from No. 30 last year. These stats, however, came at a price: $96 million in overtime pay, triple what was budgeted for the year. Still, there is no more important issue for Rahm, says a City Hall observer: “So much of the mayor’s success rides on McCarthy’s ability to bring down the murder rate.”