Richard Michael Daley
54th Mayor of Chicago
Incumbent
Assumed office  April 24, 1989
Preceded by	Eugene Sawyer
Born	April 24, 1942 (1942-04-24) (age 66) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Margaret Daley
Residence	Chicago, Illinois
Alma mater	DePaul University
Religion	Roman Catholic

Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. The Mayor of Chicago is the Chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest City in the United Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Eugene Sawyer ( September 3 1934 &ndash January 19 2008) was an American businessman and politician who served as Mayor Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval DePaul University is a private institution of Higher education and Research in Chicago, Illinois, U Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The Mayor of Chicago is the Chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest City in the United Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. His 2007 re-election set him on the path to becoming the longest serving Mayor in the city's history (a record currently held by his father, Richard J. Daley), should he remain in office beyond December 25, 2010. Richard Joseph Daley ( May 15, 1902 – December 20, 1976) served for 21 years as the undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian For the film see 2010 The Year We Make Contact. For the book see 2010 Odyssey Two.

Chosen by Time in its April 25, 2005 issue as the best out of five mayors of large cities in the United States, and characterized as having "imperial" style and power,^[1] he has presided over such successes as the resurgence in tourism, the modernization of the Chicago Transit Authority, the building of Millennium Park, increased environmental efforts and the rapid development of the city's North Side, as well as the near South and West sides. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois. Millennium Park is a public Park located in the Chicago Loop community area of Chicago within, United States. He remains widely popular with city residents, taking over 70% of the mayoral vote in 1999, 2003, and 2007. Recently, he has been in the public eye for playing a significant role in forwarding Chicago as the U. S. bid city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Richard Daley is the fourth of seven children and eldest son of Richard J. Daley and Eleanor Daley, former Mayor and First Lady of Chicago, respectively. Richard Joseph Daley ( May 15, 1902 – December 20, 1976) served for 21 years as the undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago Eleanor "Sis" Daley ( March 4, 1907 &ndash February 16, 2003) born Eleanor Guilfoyle was the wife of former Chicago Originally from Bridgeport, a historically Irish-American neighborhood located southwest of the Chicago Loop, Daley graduated from De La Salle Institute and obtained his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from DePaul University. Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. Population According to the 2000 Census, 16388 people live in the Loop De La Salle Institute is a Catholic, Lasallian, Secondary school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago Illinois A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and Juris Doctor (abbreviated JD or JD, from the Latin, Teacher of Law) is a first professional graduate degree and Professional DePaul University is a private institution of Higher education and Research in Chicago, Illinois, U Prior to earning his law degree, Daley served in the Marine Reserves. The Marine Forces Reserve ( MARFORRES or MFR) (also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve ( USMCR) a part of the United States ^[2]

Mayor Daley is married to Margaret Daley, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and is still undergoing treatment. Breast cancer is a Cancer that starts in the cells of the Breast in women and men ^[3] They have four children: Nora, Patrick, Elizabeth and Kevin. Daley's second son, Kevin, was thirty-three months old when he died of complications of spina bifida in 1981. Spina bifida ( Latin: "split spine" is a developmental Birth defect involving the Neural tube: incomplete closure of the Embryonic neural Kevin's death still weighs heavily upon Daley; he typically refers to Kevin in the present tense, as if he were still alive.

Mayor Daley is brother to William M. Daley, former United States Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, and John P. Daley, a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Commissioners on which he serves as the finance chairman. William Michael Daley (born August 8, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois) served as U The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry the Department states its mission to The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States John P Daley is the 11th Ward Democratic Commiteeman in Chicago, Illinois, a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (11th District and The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district for four year terms

Daley grew up as, and is to this day, a fan of the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois.

Political beginnings

Daley was elected to his first public office as delegate to the 1969 Illinois Constitutional Convention. A delegate is a member of a group representing an organization (e On the strength of his father's political machine, Daley next ran for and won a seat in the Illinois Senate, serving from 1972 to 1980. The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the Legislative branch of the government of the State of He left Springfield to become Cook County State's Attorney, serving from 1980 to 1989. Springfield is the capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 116482 (U Cook County is a county in the US state of Illinois. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles In the United States, the State's Attorney (or State Attorney is an appointed or elected official who represents the State (prosecution in criminal prosecutions and is often Daley's tenure as county prosecutor was interrupted in 1983 with his first mayoral campaign, losing in the three-way primary to Congressman Harold Washington. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Harold Washington ( April 15 1922 – November 25 1987) was an American Lawyer and Politician who became the Incumbent Jane Byrne, a former protege of Daley's father, was also defeated. Jane Margaret Byrne (born May 24, 1934) was the first and to date only female Mayor of Chicago.

Four years later, on November 25, 1987, Washington died in office of a heart attack. Events 1034 - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots dies Donnchad, the Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply The Chicago City Council appointed an interim mayor, David Orr, who served from the day of Washington's death to December 2, 1987, when the the City Council appointed Eugene Sawyer mayor until a special election for the remaining two years of the term could be held in 1989. The Chicago City Council is the Legislative branch of the Government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. For the 19th century baseball player see Dave Orr. David Duvall Orr (born October 4 1944) is an American Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Eugene Sawyer ( September 3 1934 &ndash January 19 2008) was an American businessman and politician who served as Mayor

As a result, Sawyer faced voters for the first time, and Daley challenged him in the primary. After defeating Sawyer handily, Daley moved on to the April 4, 1989 general election against Aldermen Timothy C. Evans and Edward Vrdolyak, a former Democrat who had antagonized Washington on the city council while Washington served as mayor. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions Timothy C Evans is the Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court Edward Robert Vrdolyak (ˈɛdwɚd vɚˈdoʊliæk born 1937 is a noted Chicago lawyer and politician After winning the general election, Daley took office as Mayor of Chicago on April 24, 1989, his 47th birthday. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) As of April 24, 2008 he has served as mayor for 19 years. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Political positions

Chicago Mayor Richard M. The Mayor of Chicago is the Chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest City in the United Daley at the opening of the 2005 Revealing Chicago Exhibition in the Boeing Gallery and Chase Promenade in Millennium Park. Boeing Galleries ( North Boeing Gallery and South Boeing Gallery) are a pair of outdoor exhibition spaces within Millennium Park in the Loop Millennium Park is a public Park located in the Chicago Loop community area of Chicago within, United States.

Despite Daley's opposition to the War in Iraq, his only surviving son Patrick enlisted in the U.S. Army and announced the decision publicly on November 30, 2004. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Daley has been a supporter of gun control, with a de facto ban on handguns in Chicago. Gun politics is a set of legal issues surrounding the ownership use and regulation of firearms as well as safety issues related to firearms both through their direct use and through ^[4] He is the CEO of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,^[5] an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator The Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition is a coalition of Mayors from 225 different United States cities, with a stated goal of "making the public safer The City of New York Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman and the Mayor of New York City. Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the mayor of Boston Massachusetts, United States and the city's first

Daley is helping create initiatives to increase green roof usage within the city. A green roof is a Roof of a Building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil or a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane Chicago City Hall's own rooftop, completed in 2001, is a pilot of that program. Chicago City Hall is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. His advocacy of cycling has led to proliferation of city bike lanes, bicycle racks and bike safety programs[3][4][5]. Another of his pet projects, and a quite successful one, was bringing the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum to a permanent home in Chicago. The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, located at 1801 S Indiana Avenue in Chicago 's South Loop is dedicated to displaying and studying art produced by

Daley took over the Chicago school system in 1995, and he has brought graduation rates up from 51% to 54%. Daley emphasizes that in order to keep the middle class from fleeing to the suburbs, a city needs a strong and effective school system, and he believes that such a school system is the first step to fighting urban crime and poverty. ^[6]

He appointed Lori Healey to direct the Department of Planning and Development in 2005, to encourage the revitalization of emerging neighborhoods. Lori T Healey is the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Mayor of Chicago

Daley has also been an advocate for Chicago 2016 Olympic bid, which was selected as the United States Olympic Committee's applicant bid on April 14, 2007.

Controversies

Meigs Field

One of Daley's first major acts upon re-election on February 25, 2003 was the demolition of Meigs Field on March 30, 2003. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Merrill C Meigs Field Airport, was a single strip Airport built on Northerly Island, the man-made peninsula that also sited the 1933-1934 Century of Progress Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. A small lakefront airport adjacent to Soldier Field, it was used by general aviation aircraft and helicopters. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL General aviation (abbr GA) is one of two categories of Civil aviation. Its single runway was demolished overnight, with work starting just as local news was going off the air, and with high powered lights being shone towards Lake Shore Drive to prevent photography of the destruction. Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore or The Drive) is a mostly Freeway -standard Expressway running Daley planned to make a prairie preserve and bandshell. A unilateral decision by the mayor without approval from the Chicago City Council or Federal Aviation Administration, the act resulted in public uproar. Aviation interest groups unsuccessfully attempted to sue the city into reopening the airport, claiming Daley had been trying to close Meigs Field with non-safety-related reasons since 1995 to create a park. However, the only citation handed over to the city concerned a failure to notify the federal agency of the plans within a thirty-day time period as required by law. The city was fined $33,000, the maximum then allowed by law. Other citations were not handed; the courts noted it was well within Daley's executive powers and jurisdiction to make the decision he made. The city has since agreed to a settlement with the FAA, the terms of which include both the $33,000 fine and the repayment of $1 million from taxes to federal airport development grants. The city admits no wrongdoing under this settlement. Daley defended his actions by claiming that the airport was abandoned. This in spite of the fact that the Chicago Fire Department had several helicopters based on the field at the time. ^[7]

Daley and his supporters argued that the airport was a threat to Chicago's high-rise cityscape and its high profile skyscrapers, Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center. The Sears Tower, a Skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, has been the tallest building in North America since 1973 The John Hancock Center at 875 N Michigan Ave. in Chicago, Illinois, is a 100- story, 1127-foot (344 m tall Skyscraper Daley defended his decision with the now-infamous quote "Mickey Mouse has a no-fly zone", referring to the restrictions in place over Orlando, and it was his belief that Chicago should have similar restrictions. Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. In reality, closing the airport made the airspace less restrictive. When the airport was open, downtown Chicago was within Meigs Field's Class D airspace, requiring two-way radio communication with the tower^[8]. The world’s navigable Airspace is divided into three-dimensional segments each of which is assigned to a specific class. The buildings in downtown Chicago are now in Class E/G airspace, which allows any airplane to legally fly as close as 1,000 feet (300 m) from these buildings with no radio communication at all. ^[9]

He also argued that the lakefront needs to be opened to all residents of Chicago, not just the relatively small portion of the population who have the necessary resources to operate an aircraft. This led to the development of current Northerly Island park venues, including the concert staging area, prairie preserve, and bird rehabilitation center. Northerly Island is a 91- acre man-made Peninsula along Chicago 's lakefront

Hired Truck Program

Main article: Hired Truck Program

The Hired Truck Program involved hiring private trucks to do city work. The Hired Truck Program was a scandal-plagued program in the city of Chicago that involved hiring private trucks to do city work A six-month investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times resulted in a three-day series of articles in January 2004 that revealed that some participating companies were being paid for doing little or no work, had mob connections or were tied to city employees. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. Truck owners also paid bribes in order to get into the program. The program was overhauled in 2004 (and phased out beginning in 2005). ^[10]

Patronage

The hired truck scandal eventually sparked a Federal investigation into hiring practices at Chicago City Hall, with Robert Sorich, Mayor Daley's former patronage chief, facing mail fraud charges for allegedly rigging city hiring to favor people with political connections. Chicago City Hall is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. On July 5, 2006, Sorich was convicted on two counts of mail fraud for rigging city jobs and promotions. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[11] Daley said that "It is fair criticism to say I should have exercised greater oversight to ensure that every worker the city hired, regardless of who recommended them, was qualified and that proper procedures were always followed. "^[12]

See also

• Graffiti Blasters

References

External links

• City of Chicago official site
• Mayor Richard Daley 2007 official campaign site
• CityMayors profile
• Mayors Against Illegal Guns homepage
• contributions