Michael Anthony Bilandic
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Bilandic (February 13, 1923 – January 15, 2002) was an Illinois
politician
who served as the mayor
of Chicago
, Illinois
and as Chief Justice
of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Bilandic practiced law in Chicago for several years having graduated from the DePaul University College of Law
. He served as an alderman
in the Chicago City Council
, representing the Bridgeport neighborhood.
When Richard J. Daley
died on December 20, 1976, the President Pro Tempore
of the City Council, Wilson Frost
, announced that he was now Acting Mayor
. However, many on the white
majority city council disputed the claim of Frost, an African American
. After nearly a week of closed-door negotiations, the City Council announced that Bilandic had been selected to serve as Acting Mayor for approximately six months, until a special election
could be held to choose a mayor to fill out the remaining two years in the late Mayor Daley's term. Bilandic was selected with the proviso that he would not contend in this election.
Nonetheless, Bilandic chose to run in the spring election in 1977, and, still in his honeymoon period, received a popular mandate to assume Daley's mantle. However, popular though he was at this time, his term as mayor would prove to be short and difficult.
Bilandic had to face several labor disputes while in the mayor's office, including a gravediggers and cemetery owners' strike
and a threatened strike by members of Lyric Opera of Chicago
. The Chicago Butcher's Union worked to stop stores from selling fresh meat after 6pm, but Bilandic managed to work out a settlement. Bilandic also had to face social unrest in June 1977 when an FALN bomb exploded in City Hall and started a two-day riot among the Puerto Rican community.
Shortly before the end of his administration, a blizzard
struck Chicago and effectively closed down the city. The city's slow response to the debilitating storm was blamed on Bilandic's inaction. He lost the primary election to Jane Byrne
, a disgruntled former member of his Cabinet
, who went on to succeed Bilandic. Many political observers saw Bilandic's defeat as indicative of the end of Chicago's Democratic
machine
.
Bilandic oversaw the creation of ChicagoFest
, a food and music festival held on Navy Pier
. The Chicago Marathon
had its first running in 1977 and Bilandic participated, finishing with a time of 4 hours. A runner himself, Bilandic arranged to have five miles of unused equestrian paths along the lakefront converted to running paths.
Following his term as mayor, Bilandic was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court
in 1984, and then the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990, where he served until 2000. From 1994 to 1996 he was the Illinois Chief Justice.
John Cardinal Cody
. On January 15, 2002, Bilandic died from heart failure, just a month away from his 79th birthday and was interred in St. Mary's Cemetery.
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,...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban 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...
, 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,...
and as Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Bilandic practiced law in Chicago for several years having graduated from the DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law is a law school located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Founded in 1897 as the Illinois College of Law, the school became part of DePaul University in 1912 and is one of the academic colleges of DePaul, a Big East Conference university. The College is known for its...
. He served as an alderman
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...
in the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
, representing the Bridgeport neighborhood.
When Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
died on December 20, 1976, the President Pro Tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the City Council, Wilson Frost
Wilson Frost
Wilson Frost is a former Chicago city alderman. In 1976, upon the death of longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, Frost declared that he was now acting mayor, based upon his reading of the city charter and the fact that he was serving as President Pro Tempore of the City Council...
, announced that he was now Acting Mayor
Acting Mayor
Acting mayor is a temporary office created by the charter of some municipal governments.-History:In many cities and towns, the charter or some similar fundamental document provides that in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the mayor, another official will lead the...
. However, many on the white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
majority city council disputed the claim of Frost, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
. After nearly a week of closed-door negotiations, the City Council announced that Bilandic had been selected to serve as Acting Mayor for approximately six months, until a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
could be held to choose a mayor to fill out the remaining two years in the late Mayor Daley's term. Bilandic was selected with the proviso that he would not contend in this election.
Nonetheless, Bilandic chose to run in the spring election in 1977, and, still in his honeymoon period, received a popular mandate to assume Daley's mantle. However, popular though he was at this time, his term as mayor would prove to be short and difficult.
Bilandic had to face several labor disputes while in the mayor's office, including a gravediggers and cemetery owners' strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and a threatened strike by members of Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
. The Chicago Butcher's Union worked to stop stores from selling fresh meat after 6pm, but Bilandic managed to work out a settlement. Bilandic also had to face social unrest in June 1977 when an FALN bomb exploded in City Hall and started a two-day riot among the Puerto Rican community.
Shortly before the end of his administration, a blizzard
Chicago Blizzard of 1979
The Chicago Blizzard of 1979 was a major blizzard that affected northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, U.S. on January 13-January 14, 1979. of snow fell on January 13 alone, setting a new record for snow in one calendar day...
struck Chicago and effectively closed down the city. The city's slow response to the debilitating storm was blamed on Bilandic's inaction. He lost the primary election to Jane Byrne
Jane Byrne
Jane Margaret Byrne was the first and to date only female Mayor of Chicago. She served from April 16, 1979 to April 29, 1983. Chicago is the largest city in the United States to have had a female mayor as of 2011.-Early political career:...
, a disgruntled former member of his Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, who went on to succeed Bilandic. Many political observers saw Bilandic's defeat as indicative of the end of Chicago's Democratic
Cook County Democratic Organization
The Cook County Democratic Organization is one of the most powerful political machines in American history. Historically called the "Chicago Democratic machine", or simply the "Chicago Machine", the organization has dominated Chicago politics since the 1930s...
machine
Political machine
A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses , who receive rewards for their efforts...
.
Bilandic oversaw the creation of ChicagoFest
ChicagoFest
ChicagoFest was a summer music festival in the city of Chicago,started in 1978 by Mayor Michael Bilandic. It was held annually at Navy Pier, and lasted for roughly two weeks. It featured sixteen separate stages, each sponsored by a national retail brand and a media sponsor compatible to the stage's...
, a food and music festival held on Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
. The Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
had its first running in 1977 and Bilandic participated, finishing with a time of 4 hours. A runner himself, Bilandic arranged to have five miles of unused equestrian paths along the lakefront converted to running paths.
Following his term as mayor, Bilandic was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court
The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases arising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The Illinois Appellate Court will render its opinion in...
in 1984, and then the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990, where he served until 2000. From 1994 to 1996 he was the Illinois Chief Justice.
Personal life
Bilandic was married to Chicago socialite Heather Morgan in 1977 by Chicago's ArchbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
John Cardinal Cody
John Cardinal Cody
John Patrick Cardinal Cody was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. A native of St. Louis, he served as Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph , Archbishop of New Orleans , and Archbishop of Chicago . He was created a cardinal in 1967.-Early life and education:John Cody was born in St...
. On January 15, 2002, Bilandic died from heart failure, just a month away from his 79th birthday and was interred in St. Mary's Cemetery.