U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is not the first Chicago politician to handpick a successor — and he certainly won’t be the last.
The city has seen similar machinations over the decades, including another instance this week. While Garcia’s decision is frowned upon, it’s still legal. But the process — ducking out at the last minute — limits candidates because many people considering a run opt out of challenging an incumbent.
Here’s an overview of some of the most egregious Chicago machine-like examples of anointing a successor, including instances of family hand-me-downs. In some cases, incumbents stepped down before an election, setting the stage for the mayor to appoint a pick without the input of voters.
“As a rule, Chicago pols love to jimmy rig the election process to install a chosen one. Often it’s a form of royal succession, from father to son or daughter,” the Sun-Times wrote in a 2014 editorial. “In any event, the installee forever owes the installer.”
Marty Moylan
Moylan, a state representative from Des Plaines, last week filed petitions to run once again for his 55th District seat in the Illinois General Assembly. But on Monday, the last day to file petitions to run for the March 17 primary, Moylan’s chief of staff, Justin Cochrane, filed petitions in the race — the only Democrat on the ballot. Moylan has endorsed Cochrane.
Antonio Muñoz
State Sen. Antonio Muñoz’s son-in-law and former campaign manager, Javier Loera Cervantes, filed petitions in the final hours of the 2022 petition deadline to run for the 1st District seat held by Muñoz, D-Chicago. Cervantes won the election to replace Muñoz, who retired.
Steve Landek
State Sen. Steve Landek’s chief of staff, Mike Porfirio, filed petitions on the last day to run for Landek’s seat in 2022. Landek, D-Bridgeview, withdrew his petitions and retired.
William Lipinski
In 2004, Democratic Rep. William Lipinski engineered the elevation of his son, Dan, as his successor in the Southwest Side and suburban 3rd Congressional District. William Lipinski withdrew his name from the 2004 general election and announced his retirement. Then he rallied for Democratic Party leaders to appoint his son to replace him on the ballot. Rep. Dan Lipinski went on to serve until 2020.
Emil Jones Jr.
State Sen. Emil Jones III got his job in a similar way in 2008. His father, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., opted to leave his seat after the primary. Jones III was appointed to the seat and won the November election.
Richard Mell
Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) stepped down in 2013 to retire. Then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed his seat to Mell’s daughter, Deb Mell.
Edward Vrdolyak
Ald. Edward R. Vrdolyak (10th) helped anoint his brother, Victor, his successor in 1986.
Anthony Laurino
Mayor Richard M. Daley tapped Margaret Laurino to replace her father, Anthony C. Laurino, in the 39th Ward in 1994. He had served in the City Council for 29 years.
Lemuel Austin
Ald. Carrie Austin was appointed 34th Ward alderperson by Daley after her husband, Ald. Lemuel Austin, died of a heart attack in 1994.
John Stroger
Todd Stroger took over his father’s seat as Cook County Board president in 2006 after his father suffered a stroke one week before the Democratic primary. John Stroger Jr. ,whose name was on the ballot, won the nomination but later submitted his resignation. Ultimately, the Cook County Democratic Central Committee chose Todd Stroger to replace his father in the November election.
Dan Ryan
Powerhouse Cook County Board President Dan Ryan first joined the County Board in 1923 to take the commissioner slot of his father, who had died. And when Ryan died in 1961, his wife, Ruby, took over his slot.
William Beavers
Darcel Beavers was appointed 7th Ward alderperson in 2006 when her father, longtime councilman William Beavers, moved over to the Cook County Board. Darcel Beavers had served as an aide to her dad, who was also chairman of the budget committee. But she lost the February municipal election to Sandi Jackson.
Stephanie Neely/Kurt Summers
City Treasurer Stephanie Neely in 2014 announced she was stepping down, just four months short of the February municipal elections. That set the stage for Emanuel to appoint Kurt Summers, a former chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. The irony is that Neely got the city treasurer gig eight years prior in exactly the same fashion. Then-City Treasurer Judy Rice resigned four months before the election, allowing Daley to appoint Neely.
