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Long-time Democratic chairman John Gianulis dies
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Candidate
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| Contributor | ev |
| Last Edited | ev Feb 08, 2010 10:43pm |
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| Category | Obituary |
| News Date | Tuesday, February 9, 2010 04:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | By John Marx, jmarx@qconline.com
To borrow a sports metaphor, John Gianulis was an "impact player.''
Mr. Gianulis, who transformed Rock Island County politics during a 40-year tenure as leader of the Democratic Party, died Monday at age 87. He was a resident of Moline's Amber Ridge Assisted Living.
"We have lost a legend,'' said Denny Jacobs, former state senator from East Moline. "He had a knack, no matter what the climate might be, to mend fences and push forward. Heck, we had our battles -- those I believe were upper (Rock Island County) and lower (Rock Island County) issues -- but we always went forward. He put those to bed and and always did his best for the good of the people.''
Visitation is 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at Wheelan-Pressly, with funeral services at 10 a.m. Thursday at Rock Island's St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
Mr. Gianulis led the Rock Island County Democratic party for 40 years, resigning in February, 2008 because of health concerns. He began his political career in 1958 as a precinct committeeman in Andalusia. In June 1968, he was elected as the Rock Island County Democratic Party chairman, succeeding David DeDoncker of East Moline.
"He smoothed whatever rough edges he had when he started,'' Mr. Jacobs said. "His ability to reach people was amazing. That he saw more than one way to get something done was his greatest attribute.''
Mr. Gianulis watched over a party that -- save for an occasional bump in the political road -- has dominated the local political scene for four decades. Under his leadership, Democrats established and maintained a stranglehold over county and regional offices.
First came the conquest of the Rock Island County Board. In 1971, three years into Mr. Gianulis' chairmanship, Republicans had a 19-17 advantage. In 1972. a year in which board districts were redrawn and the number of seats cut to 29, the Democrats emerged from the fall elections with a 17-12 advantage.
Today, the board has 25 members. Only |
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