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  O'Connor, Patrick J.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
  2015-01-01  
 
NamePatrick J. O'Connor
Address2930 W. Catalpa Ave
Chicago, Illinois , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born June 21, 1954 (69 years)
ContributorCOSDem
Last ModifedRBH
Feb 16, 2020 04:51pm
Tags Irish - Married - Catholic - Straight -
InfoPatrick J. O'Connor has been fighting for the people of Chicago for over 25 years. He has used his abilities as a lawyer, community leader and alderman to advocate for change and to improve our public school system, create new jobs and promote economic development, improve our health care system, keep our neighborhoods safe, and to rebuild our infrastructure.

Pat is a lifelong resident of the northwest side of Chicago and has represented the city's 40th Ward in the City Council since 1983. He is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Traffic Control & Safety and the Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee. In his years in the City Council, Pat distinguished himself as a leader in education, economic development and public safety. He has a solid reputation for honesty and personal integrity.

In his years of public service, Pat O'Connor has always stood up for what is right and best for the people he serves, even when it is not the popular political choice with Democratic Party leadership. In 1984, Pat was the first city of Chicago Democratic Committeeman to break from the party and endorse the late Paul Simon in the U.S. Senate democratic primary.

For over 20 years, he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Child Development, where he worked with Mayor Daley, Paul Vallas, Gery Chico and Arne Duncan on Chicago's public school reform movement. Nationally recognized as a leader in public education, Pat O'Connor has received countless awards from teachers and school administrators alike. In his first year as Education Chairman, Pat was a key figure in negotiating a settlement to the longest teachers' strike in more than three decades. He established a reputation for bipartisanship and an ability to find new solutions to longstanding problems. His efforts as an advocate for education funding in Springfield have resulted in better pay for teachers and an unprecedented period of cooperation between the Chicago Board of Education and labor unions that serve the school children of Chicago. Pat was one of the founding members of the National League of Cities Institute on Youth Education and Families, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

As the son of Irish immigrants, Pat has always understood the need for good jobs that pay a living wage. As an elected official, he has fought for small business owners and made economic development a top priority. He has always supported a living wage and equal pay for equal work. Pat currently serves on the Chicago Plan Commission (an advisory body that reviews all substantial development proposals in the city).

Pat O'Connor was instrumental in bringing Northside College Prep to the northwest side of Chicago. Northside College Prep has emerged to be the top high school academically in the state of Illinois. Additionally, Ald. O'Connor has led the way in building new police and fire stations and new libraries. He has also passed legislation mandating that city establishments which serve alcohol warn pregnant women about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant (fetal alcohol syndrome) and fought for neighborhood health care clinics and school based health care clinics. Pat O'Connor believes that focusing on economic development, jobs, education, infrastructure and health care is the best way to insure everyone a good quality of life and a chance at the American Dream.

Pat's law practice has been concentrated for the past ten years in the neighborhood banking industry. He has the capacity to be a leader on legislation dealing with the banking industry and to be a strong ally and partner for President Obama's Economic Recovery Plan from his first day in office.

Pat graduated Mather High School and earned his B.A. and law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. He is the proud husband of Barbara and father of five children, Hilary, Patrick, Claire, Courtney and Moira. He resides in the Budlong Woods neighborhood and is an active member of St. Hilary's Catholic Church. He is active in neighborhood, civic and community organizations and activities.

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RACES
  04/02/2019 Chicago Ward 40 - Runoff Lost 46.13% (-7.73%)
  02/26/2019 Chicago Ward 40 Won 33.30% (+13.20%)
  02/24/2015 Chicago Ward 40 Won 58.40% (+16.81%)
  02/22/2011 Chicago Ward 40 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  03/03/2009 IL District 5 - Special D Primary Lost 11.62% (-10.42%)
  02/27/2007 Chicago Ward 40 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  02/25/2003 Chicago Ward 40 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  02/23/1999 Chicago Ward 40 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  02/28/1995 Chicago Ward 40 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/03/1992 Cook County State's Attorney Lost 38.73% (-22.55%)
  03/17/1992 Cook County State's Attorney - D Primary Won 52.51% (+31.94%)
  02/26/1991 Chicago Ward 40 Won 69.83% (+43.81%)
  03/20/1990 Cook County State's Attorney - D Primary Lost 36.76% (-13.14%)
  04/12/1983 Chicago Ward 40 Won 55.70% (+11.41%)
ENDORSEMENTS
IL US President - D Primary - Mar 17, 2020 D Joe Biden
Cook County Commissioner 10 - Appointment - Apr 15, 2009 D Bridget Gainer
Chicago Mayor - Appointment - Dec 02, 1987 D Eugene Sawyer