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 party that participates (the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and possibly others) 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]

Cook County Democratic Party

As of May 2023.[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 Raymond 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–present), 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 Eamon Kelly None
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

Cook County Republican Party

As of May 2023.[23][24]

Constituency
(ward or township)
Name Start Other Office(s) Held
1st Ward Richard Scumaci
2nd Ward Eloise Gearson None
3rd Ward Vacant
4th Ward Lori Yokoyama None
5th Ward Vacant
6th Ward Vacant
7th Ward Vacant
8th Ward Lynn Franco None
9th Ward Wayland Johnson None
10th Ward Vacant
11th Ward Vacant
12th Ward Natalian Bolton None
13th Ward David Krupa
14th Ward Vacant
15th Ward Rosa Pritchett None
16th Ward Vacant
17th Ward Vacant
18th Ward Devin Jones
19th Ward Steve Graves None
20th Ward Vacant
21st Ward Latasha Fields
22nd Ward Julian Aguilar
23rd Ward Jesus Solorio
24th Ward Vacant
25th Ward Evan Kasal
26th Ward Jonathan Sloat
27th Ward Vacant
28th Ward Christopher Myers
29th Ward Walter Adamczyk
30th Ward Edward Karecki
31st Ward Ramona Bonilla-Anaiel
32nd Ward Steve Boulton
33rd Ward Vacant
34th Ward Vacant
35th Ward Vacant
36th Ward Vacant
37th Ward Vacant
38th Ward Chuck Hernandez None
39th Ward Barry Bebart
40th Ward Daniel Kelley None
41st Ward Ammie Kessem
42nd Ward Vacant
43rd Ward Brian Kasal
44th Ward Laura Kotelman
45th Ward Keith Urbanski
46th Ward Andrew Bakker
47th Ward Vacant
48th Ward Vacant
49th Ward James Hazard
50th Ward Joseph Tamraz
Barrington Township Peter Kopsaftis 2020[25] None
Berwyn Township Joe Woodward
Bloom Township Lisa Kristina
Bremen Township Max Solomon None
Calumet Township Vacant
Cicero Township Sandra Tomschin None
Elk Grove Township Ed Lapinski None
Evanston Sean Matlis None
Hanover Township Michael Baumer Streamwood Village Trustee[26]
Lemont Township Michael Shackel Lemont Township Trustee[27]
Leyden Township Brad Stephens Member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present)
Lyons Township Terry Carr None
Maine Township Jim Stinson
New Trier Township Julie Cho None
Niles Township Chris Hanusiak None
Northfield Township T. J. Brown None
Norwood Park Township George Ballis None
Oak Park Township John Bergholz None
Orland Township Cindy Nelson Katsenes None
Palatine Township Aaron Del Mar Palatine Township Highway Commissioner[28]
Palos Township Sean Morrison Chair of the Cook County Republican Party (2016–present), Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (2015–present)[29][30]
Proviso Township Mike Corrigan None
Rich Township Eric Wallace None
River Forest Township Tom Cronin None
Riverside Township Jay Reyes None
Schaumburg Township Joeseph Folisi None
Stickney Township Natasa Dzolic Member of Stickney, Illinois Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission[31]
Thornton Township Tim DeYoung
Wheeling Township Kathy Penner Wheeling Township Supervisor
Worth Township Shaun Murphy None

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
  2. "Party Officials: Democratic Ward Committeemen". Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  3. "Party Officials: Republican Ward Committeemen". Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  4. 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.
  5. "Party Officials: Democratic Township Committeemen". Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on July 23, 2007. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  6. "Party Officials: Republican Township Committeemen". Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  7. Long, Ray (October 16, 2007). "Why you already may be noticing politicians". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Satre, Tully (January 30, 2008). "Tom Tunney and a Committeeman's Role". Windy City Times. Windy City Media Group. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
  9. 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.
  10. Davey, Monica (November 12, 2008). "Picking Obama Successor Puts Spotlight on Governor". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  11. 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.
  12. "Cook County Democratic Committeepeople". www.cookcountydems.com. Cook County Democratic Party. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. 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.
  14. 1 2 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.
  15. "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.
  16. "'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.
  17. "Cook County Democratic Committeempeople". www.cookcountydems.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  18. "PTAB - Board Member Robert J. Steffen". www.ptab.illinois.gov. Property Tax Appeal Board. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  19. "Mayor Lovero Biography | City of Berwyn". berwyn-il.gov. Berwyn, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  20. "Village Officials – Village of Hazelcrest". villageofhazelcrest.org. Village of Hazelcrest. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  21. "Mayor's Office | Village of Franklin Park". www.villageoffranklinpark.com. Village of Franklin Park. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  22. "Calvin Jordan, Highway Commissioner | Elected Officials". www.richtownship.org. Rich Township. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  23. "Ward Committeemen". Cook County Republican Party.
  24. "Township Committeemen". Cook County Republican Party. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  25. "Barrington Township Republican Organization President Peter Kopsaftis Appointed as Committeeperson – BTRO". Barrington Township Republican Organization. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  26. "Streamwood, Illinois - President And Board of Trustees". www.streamwood.org. Streamwood, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  27. Earnest, Andrea (January 15, 2020). "Lemont Township Trustee Resigns, New Trustee Appointed". Lemont, IL Patch. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  28. "Forms & Permits". Palatine Township Road District. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  29. "Sean M. Morrison | CookCountyIL.gov". www.cookcountyil.gov. Coo County, Illinois. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  30. "Leadership". Cook County Republican Party. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  31. "Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission « Village of Stickney". www.villageofstickney.com. Village of Stickney. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
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