Richard John Phelan (March 29, 1937 – March 26, 2024) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. He was special counsel to the House Ethics Committee investigating Speaker Jim Wright in the late 1980s.[1] Phelan was then elected as Cook County Board President from 1990 to 1994.[2] His campaign was Chicago's and Illinois' top 1990 election in terms of coverage and importance, as Phelan brought a reform agenda, beating out the candidates of the Regular Cook County Democratic Party. His campaign included campaign manager Eric Adelstein, media consultant David Axelrod,[3] field director Pete Giangreco, Rahm Emanuel, who did opposition research, issues director Don Wiener, fundraiser Mary Beth Sova, and field assistant Troy Deckert.
Richard Phelan | |
|---|---|
| President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office December 1990 – December 1994 | |
| Preceded by | George Dunne |
| Succeeded by | John H. Stroger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2024 (aged 86) Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Phelan was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994.[4]
Phelan died from cancer at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois, on March 26, 2024, at the age of 86.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Jim Wright Is A Mirror Phelan Should Look Into - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- ^ Fran Speilman. "Change of venue for Richard Phelan's sign". Chicago Sun-Times. November 19, 2010. Retrieved on December 21, 2010.
- ^ Hardy, Thomas (27 June 1990). "MAN ON A MISSION". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ https://abc30.com/archive/9016149/ [dead link]
- ^ Struett, David (30 March 2024). "Richard Phelan, former Cook County Board president who restored abortion services, dies at 86". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
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