Committeepeople (Cook County, Illinois)
Ward Committeepeople and Township Committeepeople are political party officials who serve many standard committeemen duties on behalf of their political party in Cook County, Illinois .
Structure and election
The city of Chicago, the largest municipality in Cook County, elects committeepeople (known as "committeemen" until 2018) from each of its 50 wards .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Each of the 30 suburban civil townships in Cook County also elect committeepeople from each township.[ 1] [ 5] [ 6] Each established party in Cook County, currently Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians, elects its own committeeperson.
Elections for Chicago ward committeepeople coincide with the primaries for presidential candidates,[ 7] while elections for township committeepeople coincide with primaries for gubernatorial candidates.
Roles
The positions are unpaid, with responsibilities that include voter registration, community forums, election materials, and election operations.[ 1] In Chicago, the committeepeople are responsible for producing smooth political processes during the elections in their wards, which includes attempting to produce high voter turnout.[ 8]
Committeepeople are voting members in the political organization of their party in the County.[ 8] This role gives them authority on behalf of the party to select replacements for some vacated political posts such as United States Representative and state legislators . Replacements for some other vacancies are selected through other processes: vacated United States Senate posts are appointed by the Illinois Governor and vacated Chicago City Council posts are appointed by the Mayor of Chicago .[ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
Operationally in Chicago, the committeeperson plays an important role in ward politics. The post of alderman and committeeperson are often closely linked: sometimes the former controls the latter and sometimes the same person holds both posts.[ 1] In many cases, the committeeman also has influence over the doling out of jobs, favors, and services around the ward. Sometimes a committeeperson accumulates sufficient influence to place their loyalists into political positions outside of the ward.[ 1]
As of March 2024.[ 12]
Constituency(ward or township)
Name
Start
Other Office(s) Held
1st Ward
Daniel La Spata
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
2nd Ward
Tim Egan
2016
None
3rd Ward
Pat Dowell
2008
Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)
4th Ward
Toni Preckwinkle
1992[ 13]
Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party (2018–present), President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (2010–present), Member of the Chicago City Council (1991–2010)
5th Ward
Leslie Hairston
2000
Member of the Chicago City Council (1999–2023)
6th Ward
Roderick Sawyer
2012
Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–2023)
7th Ward
Greg Mitchell
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
8th Ward
Michelle Harris
2008
Member of the Chicago City Council (2006–present)
9th Ward
Anthony Beale
2000
Member of the Chicago City Council (1999–present)
10th Ward
Susan Sadlowski Garza
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–2023)
11th Ward
John Daley
1980[ 14]
Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (1992–present), Member of the Illinois Senate (1989–1992), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1985–1989)
12th Ward
George Cardenas
2020
Member of the Cook County Board of Review (2022–present), Member of the Chicago City Council (2003–2022)
13th Ward
Mike Madigan
1972[ 14]
Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party (1998–2021), Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives (1997–2021, 1983–1995), Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–1997, 1981–1983), Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives (1977–1981), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1971–2021)
14th Ward
Aarón Ortíz
2020
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present)
15th Ward
Ray Lopez
2012
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
16th Ward
Stephanie Coleman
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
17th Ward
David Moore
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
18th Ward
Derrick Curtis
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
19th Ward
Matt O'Shea
2012
Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)
20th Ward
Mattie Hunter
2020
Member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present)
21st Ward
Howard Brookins
2004
Member of the Chicago City Council (2003–2023)
22nd Ward
Mike Rodriguez
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
23rd Ward
Silvana Tabares
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2018–present), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2018)
24th Ward
Michael Scott
2016
Member of the Chicago Board of Education (2022–present), Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–2022)
25th Ward
Byron Sigcho-Lopez
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
26th Ward
Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez
2020
None
27th Ward
Walter Burnett
2013[ 15]
Vice Mayor of Chicago (2023–present), Member of the Chicago City Council (1995–present)
28th Ward
Jason Ervin
2012
Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)
29th Ward
Chris Taliaferro
2016
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
30th Ward
Ariel Reboyras
2006
Member of the Chicago City Council (2003–2023)
31st Ward
Felix Cardona
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
32nd Ward
Scott Waguespack
2012
Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)
33nd Ward
Iris Martinez
2020
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County (2020–2024), Member of the Illinois Senate (2003–2020)
34th Ward
Preston Brown
2020
None
35th Ward
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
2022
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
36th Ward
Gil Villegas
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2015–present)
37th Ward
Emma Mitts
2004
Member of the Chicago City Council (2000–present)
38th Ward
Rob Martwick
2017[ 16]
Member of the Illinois Senate (2019–present), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2013–2019)
39th Ward
Ram Villivalam
2019
Member of the Illinois Senate (2019–present)
40th Ward
Maggie O'Keefe
2020
None
41st Ward
Joe Cook
2020
None
42nd Ward
Brendan Reilly
2008
President pro tempore of the Chicago City Council (2019–2023), Vice Mayor of Chicago (2015–2019), Member of the Chicago City Council (2007–present)
43rd Ward
Lucy Moog
2016
None
44th Ward
Tom Tunney
2004
Vice Mayor of Chicago (2019–2023), Member of the Chicago City Council (2003–2023)
45th Ward
Jim Gardiner
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2019–present)
46th Ward
Sean Tenner
2018
None[ 17]
47th Ward
Paul Rosenfeld
2015
None
48th Ward
Harry Osterman
2020
Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–2023), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2000–2011)
49th Ward
Kelly Cassidy
2019
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2011–present)
50th Ward
Debra Silverstein
2019
Member of the Chicago City Council (2011–present)
Barrington Township
Robert Steffen
Member of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board[ 18]
Berwyn Township
Robert Lovero
Mayor of Berwyn [ 19]
Bloom Township
Monica Gordon
Bremen Township
Vernard Alsberry
Hazelcrest Village President[ 20]
Calumet Township
Bob Rita
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2003–present)
Cicero Township
Larry Dominick
Elk Grove Township
Ted Mason
None
Evanston
Daniel Biss
2024
Mayor of Evanston (2021-present), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2011-2013), Member of the Illinois Senate (2013-2019)
Hanover Township
Adriana Barriga-Green
Lemont Township
Kvin Ameriks
Leyden Township
Barrett Pedersen
Mayor of Franklin Park [ 21]
Lyons Township
Steven Landek
Member of the Illinois Senate (2011–present)
Maine Township
Laura Murphy
Member of the Illinois Senate (2015–present)
New Trier Township
Dean Maragos
None
Niles Township
Josina Morita
Northfield Township
Tracy Katz Muhl
None
Norwood Park Township
Frank Avino
None
Oak Park Township
Don Harmon
President of the Illinois Senate (2020–present), President pro tempore of the Illinois Senate (2011–2019), Member of the Illinois Senate (2003–present)
Orland Township
Beth McElroy Kirkwood
Palatine Township
Maria Galo
None
Palos Township
Robert Maloney
None
Proviso Township
Karen Yarbrough
Acting Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party (2021), Clerk of Cook County (2018–present), Cook County Recorder of Deeds (2012–2018), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2001–2012)
Rich Township
Calvin Jordan
Rich Township Highway Inspector, Trustee of Rich Township Schools, and member of Village of Hazel Crest Economic Development Board[ 22]
River Forest Township
Cathy Adduci
Riverside Township
Micheal Zalewski
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2008–2023)
Schaumburg Township
Mike Cudzik
None
Stickney Township
Vincent Cainkar
None
Thornton Township
Napoleon Harris
Member of the Illinois Senate (2013–present)
Wheeling Township
Mark Walker
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present, 2009–2011)
Worth Township
Patricia Murphy
None
As of December 2024.[ 23] [ 24]
Notes
^ a b c d e "Ask Chicagoist: What's a Ward Committeeman?" . Chicagoist . Gothamist LLC. February 26, 2007. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2008 .
^ "Party Officials: Democratic Ward Committeemen" . Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ "Party Officials: Republican Ward Committeemen" . Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ Hinton, Rachel (November 25, 2019). "Is name change for ward bosses a breath of fresh air for Chicago's smoke-filled rooms" . Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved February 15, 2020 .
^ "Party Officials: Democratic Township Committeemen" . Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on July 23, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ "Party Officials: Republican Township Committeemen" . Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ Long, Ray (October 16, 2007). "Why you already may be noticing politicians" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ a b Satre, Tully (January 30, 2008). "Tom Tunney and a Committeeman's Role" . Windy City Times . Windy City Media Group. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ Barone, Michael (August 22, 2008). "Obama Needs to Explain His Ties to William Ayers" . U.S. News & World Report . U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Retrieved November 18, 2008 .
^ Davey, Monica (November 12, 2008). "Picking Obama Successor Puts Spotlight on Governor" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 21, 2008 .
^ Sidoti, Liz (November 13, 2008). "Obama to Resign Senate Seat on Sunday" . Time . Time Inc. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008 .
^ "Cook County Democratic Committeepeople" . www.cookcountydems.com . Cook County Democratic Party. Retrieved March 5, 2024 .
^ Sweet, Lynn (December 10, 1991). " '92 primary candidates are off to the races" . Chicago Sun-Times . p. 4. Retrieved December 11, 2008 . Sweet, Lynn (December 20, 1991). "Political briefings" . Chicago Sun-Times . p. 34. Retrieved December 11, 2008 . "Chicago ward committeemen" . Chicago Tribune . March 19, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved December 11, 2008 .
^ a b Fremon, David K. (October 22, 1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward . Bloomington, Indiana : Indiana University Press . ISBN 0-253-31344-9 . Retrieved March 26, 2018 .
^ "Biography" . Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. Retrieved March 26, 2018 . Burnett was appointed Committeeman of the 27th Ward Organization by his mentor, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, (and former Committeeman of the 27th Ward) on July 6, 2013.
^ " 'Independent' Sposato To Step Down As Dem Committeeman, Stay On As Alderman" . DNAinfo.com. October 10, 2017. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018 .
^ "Cook County Democratic Committeempeople" . www.cookcountydems.com . Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
^ "PTAB - Board Member Robert J. Steffen" . www.ptab.illinois.gov . Property Tax Appeal Board. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Mayor Lovero Biography | City of Berwyn" . berwyn-il.gov . Berwyn, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Village Officials – Village of Hazelcrest" . villageofhazelcrest.org . Village of Hazelcrest. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Mayor's Office | Village of Franklin Park" . www.villageoffranklinpark.com . Village of Franklin Park. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Calvin Jordan, Highway Commissioner | Elected Officials" . www.richtownship.org . Rich Township. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Ward Committeemen" . Cook County Republican Party .
^ "Township Committeemen" . Cook County Republican Party . Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
^ "Barrington Township Republican Organization President Peter Kopsaftis Appointed as Committeeperson – BTRO" . Barrington Township Republican Organization. Retrieved May 18, 2021 .
^ "Streamwood, Illinois - President And Board of Trustees" . www.streamwood.org . Streamwood, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ Earnest, Andrea (January 15, 2020). "Lemont Township Trustee Resigns, New Trustee Appointed" . Lemont, IL Patch . Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Forms & Permits" . Palatine Township Road District. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Sean M. Morrison | CookCountyIL.gov" . www.cookcountyil.gov . Coo County, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
^ "Leadership" . Cook County Republican Party . Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
^ "Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission « Village of Stickney" . www.villageofstickney.com . Village of Stickney. Retrieved June 9, 2020 .
External links
Wards Townships
Barrington: Robert Steffen
Berwyn: Robert Lovero
Bloom: Monica Gordon
Bremen: Vernard Alsberry
Calumet: Bob Rita
Cicero: Larry Dominick
Elk Grove: Ted Mason
Evanston: Daniel Biss
Hanover: Adriana Barriga-Green
Lemont: Kevin Ameriks
Leyden: Barrett Pedersen
Lyons: Steve Landek
Maine: Laura Murphy
New Trier: Dean Maragos
Niles: Josina Morita
Northfield: Tracy Katz Muhl
Norwood Park: Frank Avino
Oak Park: Don Harmon
Orland Park: Beth McElroy Kirkwood
Palatine: Maria Galo
Palos: Robert Maloney
Proviso: Emanuel "Chris" Welch
Rich: Calvin Jordan
River Forest: Cathy Adduci
Riverside: Michael Zalewski
Schaumburg: Mike Cudzik
Stickney: Vincent Cainkar
Thornton: Napoleon Harris
Wheeling: Mark Walker
Worth: Patricia Joan Murphy