Jim Ryan (politician)
| Jim Ryan | |
|---|---|
| 40th Attorney General of Illinois | |
|
In office January 9, 1995 – January 13, 2003 |
|
| Governor |
Jim Edgar George Ryan |
| Preceded by | Roland Burris |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Madigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 21, 1946 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Marie |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater |
Benedictine University Illinois Institute of Technology |
James E. Ryan (born February 21, 1946) is an American politician who served two four-year terms as Illinois Attorney General. A career Republican, he received his party's nomination and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois against Rod Blagojevich in 2002. He has been a professor at Benedictine University since 2003. He again ran for Governor in 2010 and led incumbent Governor Pat Quinn in aggregate polling; but he failed to gain his party's nomination, coming in fourth in a field of seven candidates.
Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois. Ryan's father Edward Ryan was a construction worker while his mother was an Italian immigrant housewife. He attended a Benedictine-run high school, Saint Procopius Academy (now Benet Academy). Upon graduating, Ryan went on to study at Saint Procopius College (now Benedictine University), where he obtained his bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1968. He then went on to Chicago-Kent College of Law where he obtained his J.D. in 1971.
Ryan entered the legal profession having found a position with the DuPage County State's Attorney office. After three years, he was promoted to first Assistant State's Attorney. In 1976, Ryan left the public sector to enter private practice. He worked at an independent law firm until 1984. That year, Ryan entered his first political race and won. He was sworn in as DuPage County State's Attorney, becoming the highest ranking prosecutor in the district. He was re-elected in 1988 and again in 1992.
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