Wilson Frost
Encyclopedia
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
. However, Wilson found himself literally locked out of the mayor's office—he was told that the keys could not be found. In a power struggle that lasted several days, the white majority city council determined that the African-American Frost was incorrect in his claim, and appointed Michael Bilandic, a Croatia
n-American alderman, as acting mayor instead.
Born in Cairo, Illinois
, Frost graduated from Fisk University
and later went to Chicago-Kent College of Law
, where he got his law degree and was admitted to the Illinois bar. Frost, a lawyer
, was first elected as an alderman in 1967, representing the 21st Ward. He was seen as a loyalist in the ranks of the Daley political machine
, and his elevation to the position of president pro tempore was a reward for his service. However, the majority of Chicagoans in the mid-1970s were highly resistant to the notion of a black mayor, and the power brokers even more so. To appease African American voters, the kingmaker
s in City Hall elevated Frost to the chairmanship of the City Council's Finance Committee, a position that carried some real power, as opposed to the titular position
of council president pro tempore. Frost replaced Alderman Edward Vrdolyak
—one of the most powerful alderman, both before and after these events—as finance chair. Also, to ostensibly eliminate the chance of any future confusion, a new position of "Vice-Mayor" was created.
Wilson continued to serve on the city council until 1987. His last public office that he held was commissioner of the Cook County
Board of Tax Appeals, from which he retired in 1998.
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...
city 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 1976, upon the death of longtime mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
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...
, Frost declared 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...
, based upon his reading of the city charter and the fact that he was serving as 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
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. However, Wilson found himself literally locked out of the mayor's office—he was told that the keys could not be found. In a power struggle that lasted several days, the white majority city council determined that the African-American Frost was incorrect in his claim, and appointed Michael Bilandic, a Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n-American alderman, as acting mayor instead.
Born in Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, Frost graduated from Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
and later went to Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago–Kent College of Law, the law school affiliated with Illinois Institute of Technology, is nationally recognized for the scholarship and accomplishments of its faculty and student body. It is the second oldest law school in the state of Illinois. Many of the applications of technology in the...
, where he got his law degree and was admitted to the Illinois bar. Frost, 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...
, was first elected as an alderman in 1967, representing the 21st Ward. He was seen as a loyalist in the ranks of the Daley political 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...
, and his elevation to the position of president pro tempore was a reward for his service. However, the majority of Chicagoans in the mid-1970s were highly resistant to the notion of a black mayor, and the power brokers even more so. To appease African American voters, the kingmaker
Kingmaker
Kingmaker is a term originally applied to the activities of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick — "Warwick the Kingmaker" — during the Wars of the Roses in England. The term has come to be applied more generally to a person or group that has great influence in a royal or political succession,...
s in City Hall elevated Frost to the chairmanship of the City Council's Finance Committee, a position that carried some real power, as opposed to the titular position
Titular head
A titular ruler, or titular head, is a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers. Sometimes a person may inhabit a position of titular leadership and yet exercise more power than would normally be expected, as a result of their personality or experience...
of council president pro tempore. Frost replaced Alderman Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Robert Vrdolyak is a noted Chicago lawyer and politician and a convicted felon. He was a powerful longtime Chicago Alderman and also head of the Cook County Democratic Party before running unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago as a Republican...
—one of the most powerful alderman, both before and after these events—as finance chair. Also, to ostensibly eliminate the chance of any future confusion, a new position of "Vice-Mayor" was created.
Wilson continued to serve on the city council until 1987. His last public office that he held was commissioner of the Cook County
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...
Board of Tax Appeals, from which he retired in 1998.