Richard T. Bradley
Encyclopedia
Richard T. Bradley is a Democratic
politician from Chicago
who served in the Illinois House of Representatives
from 1997 to 2009.
In 2008, Deb Mell
, daughter of Ald. Richard Mell
and sister-in-law of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
, announced that she was running for the 40th District seat. Bradley subsequently decided to run for the Illinois Senate
against state Sen. Iris Martinez
rather than face Mell. Martinez was re-elected in February 2008, defeating Bradley and another candidate.
In August 2008, Blagojevich claimed that House Democrats who held city of Chicago
jobs were fearful of voting in favor of his 2008 capital bill because they thought House Speaker Michael Madigan
might be able to get them fired. Blagojevich told reporters: "They fear their leader, Mr. Madigan, and if Mike Madigan tells them to vote a certain way, they will tell you privately, and I've had these discussions with a couple of state reps, one of whom said, 'I'm afraid if I vote for the jobs bill I'll be fired from my job at Streets and Sanitations [sic]. I'm afraid I'll lose my job.'" The one state legislator who worked at the Streets and Sanitation Department in Chicago was Bradley, who told the Chicago Sun-Times
that he hadn't talked to Blagojevich in about two years.
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...
politician from 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...
who served in the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
from 1997 to 2009.
Political career
Bradley ran for the Illinois House in 1996, winning in the 40th district on Chicago's northwest side. He took office in January 1997 and was re-elected in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.In 2008, Deb Mell
Deb Mell
Deborah L. "Deb" Mell is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 40th district, elected in 2008 and taking office on January 14, 2009.-Early life, education and career:...
, daughter of Ald. Richard Mell
Richard Mell
Richard F. "Dick" Mell is an American politician and long-time member of the Chicago City Council. He is a Democrat. Mell is the chairman of the Rules Committee and has a history of feuding with former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley....
and sister-in-law of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
, announced that she was running for the 40th District seat. Bradley subsequently decided to run for 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...
against state Sen. Iris Martinez
Iris Martinez
Iris Y. Martinez is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 20th district since 2003. She is also the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate.- Early life :...
rather than face Mell. Martinez was re-elected in February 2008, defeating Bradley and another candidate.
In August 2008, Blagojevich claimed that House Democrats who held 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...
jobs were fearful of voting in favor of his 2008 capital bill because they thought House Speaker Michael Madigan
Michael Madigan
Michael J. Madigan is the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois...
might be able to get them fired. Blagojevich told reporters: "They fear their leader, Mr. Madigan, and if Mike Madigan tells them to vote a certain way, they will tell you privately, and I've had these discussions with a couple of state reps, one of whom said, 'I'm afraid if I vote for the jobs bill I'll be fired from my job at Streets and Sanitations [sic]. I'm afraid I'll lose my job.'" The one state legislator who worked at the Streets and Sanitation Department in Chicago was Bradley, who told the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
that he hadn't talked to Blagojevich in about two years.
Political positions
Bradley said that he opposed Blagojevich's 2008 capital bill because the House Latino Caucus disagreed with its provisions as written.External links
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Richard T. Bradley (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Richard T Bradley
- Illinois House Democrats - Richard T. Bradley profile