Rahm Emanuel is off the mayoral ballot, the Illinois Appellate court said this week. Except not, because the Illinois Supreme Court said he should be on it — until they decide.

It’s been a whiplash-inducing saga in the courts, one that seemed to be over before this week. Emanuel’s lead in the polls — owning as much as 44 percent of the vote, according to the Chicago Tribune — had convinced many people to check out of the race and anoint him the winner.

But as he’s been dragged back into the courts this week with the surprising appeal ruling, it’s time to take another very serious look at the rest of the candidates in the race. Undecided voters will matter much more now than they would have just a week ago.

So, prudent voters, we encourage you to examine the rest of the ballot. If you checked out of mayoral coverage, please check back in. A close look at the rest of the field is essential.

Even if the Illinois Supreme Court does decide to put Emanuel back on the ballot, please take a close look at Gery Chico, Miguel del Valle and Carol Moseley Braun. The next mayor of Chicago will have serious business to do, and it’s not a given that Emanuel would accomplish those tasks the best.

As one candidate at the mayoral forum on community and environmental issues last week said, the decisions that will be made in the next term are difficult, and the next mayor may only last a single term because of that.

So read up. Pick the candidate you think will get the city’s work done best, and make the hard decisions that need to be made as this city wrestles with a deep budget crisis. More than executive stability, we need a mayor with the cojones to do it right.