John Cullerton
Encyclopedia
John J. Cullerton is a Democratic
member of the Illinois Senate
, representing the 6th district since his appointment in 1991. He was elected President of the Illinois Senate
in 2009.
. He went on to work at the law firm of Fagel and Haber.
Delegation at the Democratic National Convention
.
's seat in 1991, Cullerton was elected to the state senate in 1992 where he was appointed Senate Majority Caucus Whip. Cullerton has been recognized for sponsoring more bills than any other legislator and having more signed into law by the governor.
Cullerton spearheaded the state’s mandatory seat belt law and the Child Passenger Safety Act. To honor his contribution, Cullerton was awarded the “Buckle Up America Award” for the State and Local Government category.
Cullerton introduced the Neighborhood Homeowner Exemption Plan. This bill caps increases in the assessed value of property so that they can not increase by more than 7% in one year.
Cullerton has sponsored several pieces of legislation increasing gun control. He supported legislation that required gun owners to keep their weapons stored or locked out of reach from children. He also proposed a bill to close the loop hole that allows guns to be purchased at gun shows without following other existing gun sale regulations.
Cullerton is Democratic Co-Chairman on the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Committee on Rules; Insurance and Pensions Committee; and Financial Institutions Committee.
Cullerton was chosen as the next Senate President by the Senate Democratic Caucus on November 19, 2008 to begin serving in 2009, replacing the retiring Emil Jones
. Cullerton defeated James Clayborne of Belleville in the battle for the post.
His first legislative priority as Senate President was to pass the first Capital Bill in 10 years, which allocates roughly $31 Billion for public works projects and creates tens of thousands of jobs in Illinoishttp://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-0036. The Senate President lead the Senate during the impeachment trial, and subsequent removal, of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
practicing in the areas of government relations, zoning, licensing, real estate tax assessment, and nonprofit law. Cullerton is a lobbyist
registered with the City of Chicago
, and has in the past registered as a lobbyist with Cook County, Illinois
. Cullerton lobbyist clients include real estate developers, restaurants, and the National Safety Council.
In 1979, he was elected "Mr. Wonderful", of the Illinois General Assembly in a competition among 17 legislators in a competition for charity sponsored by the Conference of Women Legislators.
Cullerton co-owns a bar in Chicago, the Tavern on Rush, with Illinois State Senator James DeLeo
(D-Chicago) and others.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
, representing the 6th district since his appointment in 1991. He was elected President of the Illinois Senate
President of the Illinois Senate
This is a complete list of the Presidents of the Illinois Senate as of 2007. Each was chosen since the Illinois General Assembly's thirty-second session in 1881. Prior to 1973, the Senate was led by the Lieutenant Governor and so the elected officers listed, until then, were known as President pro...
in 2009.
Early life
Cullerton is a native of Chicago, he received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University of Chicago and continued there to earn his law degree. After graduating, Cullerton served as a Chicago Assistant Public DefenderPublic defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
. He went on to work at the law firm of Fagel and Haber.
Democratic Party Career
In 1976, Cullerton was elected to the IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Delegation at the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
.
Illinois House Career
In 1979, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly where he served for twelve years as a member of the House of Representatives. He served as President Pro Tempore and Democratic Floor Leader. According to Cullerton's campaign website, he sponsored the most bills and had the most bills passed of all legislators in the 93rd and 94th General Assemblies.Illinois Senate career
After being appointed to fill Dawn Clark NetschDawn Clark Netsch
Dawn Clark Netsch is an Illinois professor of law and politician. A member of the Democratic Party in the United States, she served in the Illinois State Senate, as Illinois Comptroller and in 1994 was the first woman to be nominated by a major political party to run for Governor of...
's seat in 1991, Cullerton was elected to the state senate in 1992 where he was appointed Senate Majority Caucus Whip. Cullerton has been recognized for sponsoring more bills than any other legislator and having more signed into law by the governor.
Cullerton spearheaded the state’s mandatory seat belt law and the Child Passenger Safety Act. To honor his contribution, Cullerton was awarded the “Buckle Up America Award” for the State and Local Government category.
Cullerton introduced the Neighborhood Homeowner Exemption Plan. This bill caps increases in the assessed value of property so that they can not increase by more than 7% in one year.
Cullerton has sponsored several pieces of legislation increasing gun control. He supported legislation that required gun owners to keep their weapons stored or locked out of reach from children. He also proposed a bill to close the loop hole that allows guns to be purchased at gun shows without following other existing gun sale regulations.
Cullerton is Democratic Co-Chairman on the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Committee on Rules; Insurance and Pensions Committee; and Financial Institutions Committee.
Cullerton was chosen as the next Senate President by the Senate Democratic Caucus on November 19, 2008 to begin serving in 2009, replacing the retiring Emil Jones
Emil Jones
Emil Jones, Jr. was the President of the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Jones served in the Illinois Senate from 1983 to 2009, where he served as President of the Illinois Senate from 2003 to the end of his term...
. Cullerton defeated James Clayborne of Belleville in the battle for the post.
His first legislative priority as Senate President was to pass the first Capital Bill in 10 years, which allocates roughly $31 Billion for public works projects and creates tens of thousands of jobs in Illinois
Other public service
Cullerton serves as a member of the Board of Directors at the Center for Disability and Elder Law, an organization that provides legal services for persons over 60 or with disabilities.Professional career
Cullerton serves part-time as an Illinois state senator. Fagel Haber merged with Thompson Coburn LLP in 2007, and Cullerton continues as a partnerpracticing in the areas of government relations, zoning, licensing, real estate tax assessment, and nonprofit law. Cullerton is a lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
registered with the City of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and has in the past registered as a lobbyist with Cook County, Illinois
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. Cullerton lobbyist clients include real estate developers, restaurants, and the National Safety Council.
Personal life
Senator Cullerton and his wife, Pam, have five children together: Maggie, John III, Garritt, Kyle, Josephine.In 1979, he was elected "Mr. Wonderful", of the Illinois General Assembly in a competition among 17 legislators in a competition for charity sponsored by the Conference of Women Legislators.
Cullerton co-owns a bar in Chicago, the Tavern on Rush, with Illinois State Senator James DeLeo
James DeLeo
James A. DeLeo was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 10th district since 1992, and is an Assistant Majority Leader. Earlier he served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He announced his retirement from the State Senate in 2010, and left office in August 2010....
(D-Chicago) and others.
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator John Cullerton (D) 6th District official IL Senate website
- John Cullerton official campaign website
- Profile at Illinois State Senate Democrats