Martin J. Oberman
Encyclopedia
Martin J. Oberman served as alderman
of Chicago
’s 43rd Ward from 1975 until 1987. He ran for Illinois Attorney General
in 1981, 1986, and again in 1994. Currently, he is a lawyer
in private practice.
, Illinois
where he opened up a grocery store. His father, M.D. “Mush” Oberman, was active in Springfield community affairs for forty years. His second son, Martin Jay, was born on April 23, 1945. At the age of 13, Marty was appointed as a page
in the United States House of Representatives
. Aside from the Capitol Page School, he attended Springfield’s Butler Grade School, Springfield High School, and graduated valedictorian from Culver Military Academy in 1962. In 1966, he received his B.A. from Yale University
, and in 1969, graduated Order of the Coif
at Wisconsin Law School where he also served as Note Editor of the University of Wisconsin Law Review.
In 1975, Marty was elected Alderman from Chicago’s independent 43rd Ward and continued his fight to bring honest, fair and accountable government to the people of Illinois. He was an acknowledged expert of the city budget and a constant adversary of the Chicago City Council’s heavy-handed political majority. In 1979 and again in 1983, he was re-elected as Alderman.
From 1983 to 1986, Marty was a leader of the forces supporting Mayor Harold Washington
, Chicago’s first African American mayor, who was taking on the Machine in what became known as the “Council Wars.”
After leaving the City Council, Oberman was appointed Chairman of the Shore Protection Commission, which was tasked with doing a complete rehabilitation of Chicago's shoreline while ensuring the highest degree of environmental protection.
Twice — in 1986 and 1994—he ran in tough races for Illinois Attorney General promising to make the attorney general’s office truly a people’s office.
His professional associations include: Chicago Council of Lawyers, American Bar Association
, and the Chicago Bar Association
. He was president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers in 1996-97.
At present, Marty practices law in the private sector.
, 35, is a graduate of Wesleyan University
(Ct) and is a candidate for Illinois State Treasurer
in the 2010 primary. His daughter, Maren, 32, is a graduate of Yale University
and Simmons College
and is a staff member at the Chicago New Teachers Center where she works at teaching teachers how to teach better.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
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...
’s 43rd Ward from 1975 until 1987. He ran for Illinois Attorney General
Illinois Attorney General
The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage...
in 1981, 1986, and again in 1994. Currently, he is a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in private practice.
Early life and education
In 1907, Marty’s grandfather brought the Oberman family to SpringfieldSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
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,...
where he opened up a grocery store. His father, M.D. “Mush” Oberman, was active in Springfield community affairs for forty years. His second son, Martin Jay, was born on April 23, 1945. At the age of 13, Marty was appointed as a page
United States House of Representatives Page
United States House of Representatives Page Program was a program run by the United States House of Representatives, under the office of the Clerk of the House, in which appointed high school juniors acted as non-partisan federal employees in the House of Representatives, providing supplemental...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Aside from the Capitol Page School, he attended Springfield’s Butler Grade School, Springfield High School, and graduated valedictorian from Culver Military Academy in 1962. In 1966, he received his B.A. from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and in 1969, graduated Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
at Wisconsin Law School where he also served as Note Editor of the University of Wisconsin Law Review.
Career and Politics
After nearly three years (1969–1972) as a lawyer with the Chicago firm of Leibman, Williams, Bennett, Baird, and Minow, Marty became General Counsel to the Illinois Racing Board under the reform chairmanship of Anthony Scariano where he investigated and prosecuted various corrupt racing interests in License Revocation proceedings for political payoffs, race-fixing and horse drugging.In 1975, Marty was elected Alderman from Chicago’s independent 43rd Ward and continued his fight to bring honest, fair and accountable government to the people of Illinois. He was an acknowledged expert of the city budget and a constant adversary of the Chicago City Council’s heavy-handed political majority. In 1979 and again in 1983, he was re-elected as Alderman.
From 1983 to 1986, Marty was a leader of the forces supporting Mayor Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
, Chicago’s first African American mayor, who was taking on the Machine in what became known as the “Council Wars.”
After leaving the City Council, Oberman was appointed Chairman of the Shore Protection Commission, which was tasked with doing a complete rehabilitation of Chicago's shoreline while ensuring the highest degree of environmental protection.
Twice — in 1986 and 1994—he ran in tough races for Illinois Attorney General promising to make the attorney general’s office truly a people’s office.
His professional associations include: Chicago Council of Lawyers, American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, and the Chicago Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Founded in 1874, the Chicago Bar Association is a voluntary bar association with over 20,000 members. Like other bar associations, it concerns itself with professional ethics, networking among members, and continuing legal education. It is located adjacent to the John Marshall Law School in the...
. He was president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers in 1996-97.
At present, Marty practices law in the private sector.
Family life
Marty lives in Chicago with his wife Bonnie Oberman who is the Chicago Director of Facing History and Ourselves. His son, JustinJustin Oberman
Justin Oberman served as a founding member and senior executive at the Transportation Security Administration , where he participated in several critical aspects of the agency’s start-up, including the hiring of 60,000 employees and taking responsibility for security at 429 airports in 12 months’...
, 35, is a graduate of Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
(Ct) and is a candidate for Illinois State Treasurer
Illinois State Treasurer
The Treasurer of Illinois is an elected official of the U.S. state of Illinois. The office was created by the Constitution of Illinois.-Current occupant and duties:, the Treasurer of Illinois is Dan Rutherford, a member of the Republican Party...
in the 2010 primary. His daughter, Maren, 32, is a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Simmons College
Simmons College
Simmons College may refer to:*Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky*Simmons College , a liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts...
and is a staff member at the Chicago New Teachers Center where she works at teaching teachers how to teach better.