Rahm Emanuel told elections officials on Tuesday that when he went to work as the White House chief of staff almost two years ago, he left behind his family's "most valuable possessions" at his Chicago home, showing he always intended to move back.

Emanuel was testifying at a Chicago Board of Election Commissioners hearing called after his residency was challenged to keep him off February's mayoral ballot. He said he left behind baby clothes, his wife's wedding dress, photo albums and family china. His supporters have long said these are not the kind of things anyone would simply abandon.

Emanuel talked about one of his most cherished possessions at the house _ a coat his grandfather bought for his father in the 1950s.

"It's the only possession I still have from my grandfather," Emanuel said.

Emanuel took the stand to defend himself against more than two dozen objectors who say he isn't eligible to run for mayor because he lived in Washington for nearly two years while working for Obama.

Emanuel's attorneys dismiss challenges to his residency, saying he owns a home, pays property taxes and votes in Chicago.

The stakes couldn't be higher for Emanuel, who left his job as President Barack Obama's chief of staff for the chance to replace Chicago's longtime mayor, Mayor Richard Daley.

During Tuesday's hearing, Emanuel appeared relaxed and was soft spoken, nothing like his fiery public reputation. He even joked at times. When one of his income tax returns was shown on a screen, Emanuel quipped "it does call for tax reform I'll tell you that."

The former Chicago congressman was expected to face hours of questioning from lawyers and some of the more than two dozen people without lawyers who challenged his mayoral bid.

Emanuel testified the rent for his home on Chicago's North Side is $4,995 a month.

Emanuel said that in September, days before Mayor Richard Daley announced he wasn't going to run for a seventh term, he extended the lease on the home to its tenant until June. Emanuel explained he wanted his children to complete the school year in Washington without disruption.

Emanuel said he called the tenant, Rob Halpin, and attempted to buy out the lease and pay moving expenses, but Halpin declined.

Halpin then decided to run for Chicago mayor, but dropped out citing the challenges of running for office.

Emanuel has moved back to Chicago, but is living elsewhere.