Edward Vrdolyak
| Edward Vrdolyak | |
|---|---|
| City of Chicago Alderman | |
|
In office 1971–1987 |
|
| Constituency | 10th Ward, Chicago |
| President of the City Council | |
|
In office 1977–1983 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edward Robert Vrdolyak December 28, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
Mount Carmel High School St. Joseph's College University of Chicago Law School |
Edward Robert Vrdolyak (/vərˈdoʊli.æk/; born December 28, 1937) is a Chicago lawyer and politician,. He was a powerful longtime Chicago alderman and also head of the Cook County Democratic Party and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago on the Illinois Solidarity Party and Republican Party tickets. Vrdolyak, born to Croatian immigrant parents, entered a Catholic seminary at age 13, but decided against joining the priesthood. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, then from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1963 and began a legal career in private practice, specializing in personal injury cases. Today, the Vrdolyak Law Group consists of 20 attorneys. Vrdolyak and his three sons are partners in the firm.
In 1968, he was elected as Democratic Committeeman from Chicago's 10th Ward in the Hegewisch and South Deering areas; a position he held until 1988. In 1971, he was elected alderman, and, after defeating Republican Melvin Simonovich, he served as President of the City Council from 1977 to 1983. Vrdolyak earned the nickname "Fast Eddie" because of his skill in back-room deal-making. In 1979, he managed the re-election campaign of Mayor Michael Bilandic. In a colossal upset, Bilandic narrowly lost to maverick Jane Byrne. Despite the fact that Byrne then stripped Vrdolyak of all powers except his aldermanic seat, he became Byrne's chief ally against both independent and Regular Democrats, becoming her floor leader in the Council. In 1982, with Byrne's support, he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee, ousting County Board President George Dunne.
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