Richard Mell
| Richard Mell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 33rd ward | |
|
In office 1975 – July 24, 2013 |
|
| Succeeded by | Deb Mell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 5, 1938 Muskegon, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Marge Mell |
| Relations | Rod Blagojevich (son-in-law) |
| Children |
Deb Patricia Richard |
Richard F. "Dick" Mell (born May 5, 1938) is an American politician. A Democrat, he served on the Chicago City Council from 1975 to 2013. He retired in 2013 and was succeeded by Deb Mell, his daughter.
Mell was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan. After college, he settled in Chicago with his wife Marge and opened a spring manufacturing business. He also became active in local politics. In 1972, Mell was an unsuccessful candidate for 33rd Ward Democratic Committeeman, losing by about 500 votes. In 1975, he was elected Alderman of the 33rd Ward of the City of Chicago (map); in 1976 he was also elected ward committeeman. His ward comprises part of Chicago's Northwest Side.
He was also one of the authors of the 1982 Chicago handgun ban which was in effect until 2010, when it was struck down by the US Supreme Court in McDonald v Chicago.
During the Council Wars of the mid-1980s, Mell was allied with the Vrdolyak 29 who opposed then-Mayor Harold Washington. After the Vrdolyak 29 lost their majority in the city council in the 1986 court-ordered aldermanic elections, Mell offered to cooperate with Washington. Upon Washington's death in 1987, Mell famously stood on his desk in the City Council chambers, demanding to be recognized as the divided Council wrestled with the question of who would succeed Washington.
Dick and Marge Mell have three children: Patricia, Deborah, and Richard. His daughter Patricia is married to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. His daughter Deb was elected to the state house of representatives in 2008 and appointed to the Chicago City Council in 2013. Marge Mell died December 3, 2006, of Progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare and fatal disease.
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