Recent from talks
Edward Vrdolyak
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Robert Vrdolyak (/vərˈdoʊli.æk/; born December 28, 1937), also known as "Fast Eddie", is a former American politician and lawyer. He was a longtime Chicago alderman and the head of the Cook County Democratic Party until 1987 when he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago on the Illinois Solidarity Party ticket. He subsequently ran again in 1989 on the Republican Party ticket. He was a prominent opponent of Harold Washington and the de facto leader of the so-called "Vrdolyak 29" that opposed and blocked many of Washington's measures.
After his electoral career ended, he resumed his law practice at The Vrdolyak Law Group. It consists of 20 attorneys. Vrdolyak's three sons are partners in the firm.
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 J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1963 and began a legal career in private practice, specializing in personal injury cases.
Vrdolyak's brother, Victor Vrdolyak (1933-1992), would also serve as a Chicago alderman (being elected in 1987 to succeed Edward on the city council).
In 1968, Vrdolyak was elected as Democratic committeeman from Chicago's 10th ward in the Hegewisch and South Deering areas; a position he continued to hold 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 1974, Vrdolyak unsuccessfully ran for Cook County Assessor. Originally, the Democratic incumbent P. J. Cullerton had been intending to seek re-election. However, Vrdolyak led an effort to have Cullerton denied slating (endorsement ahead of the primary election) by the Cook County Democratic Party organization, and Cullerton decided to forgo re-election and endorsed the candidacy of Tom Tully. Tully was able to secure the county party slating, but Vrdolyak opted to run against him in the primary. While Vrdolyak was widely regarded as the front-runner to win the primary, Tully defeated him by a large margin.
Vrdolyak was the campaign manager of Mayor Michael A. Bilandic's re-election bid in 1979. In a colossal upset, Bilandic narrowly lost the Democratic primary to maverick challenger Jane Byrne. After she took office as mayor, Byrne stripped Vrdolyak of all his powers as council president. However, over the course of her term as mayor, he came to be Byrne's chief ally against both independent and Regular Democrats, and was ultimately made her floor leader in the Council. In 1982, with Byrne's support, he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, ousting County Board President George Dunne.
Hub AI
Edward Vrdolyak AI simulator
(@Edward Vrdolyak_simulator)
Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Robert Vrdolyak (/vərˈdoʊli.æk/; born December 28, 1937), also known as "Fast Eddie", is a former American politician and lawyer. He was a longtime Chicago alderman and the head of the Cook County Democratic Party until 1987 when he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago on the Illinois Solidarity Party ticket. He subsequently ran again in 1989 on the Republican Party ticket. He was a prominent opponent of Harold Washington and the de facto leader of the so-called "Vrdolyak 29" that opposed and blocked many of Washington's measures.
After his electoral career ended, he resumed his law practice at The Vrdolyak Law Group. It consists of 20 attorneys. Vrdolyak's three sons are partners in the firm.
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 J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1963 and began a legal career in private practice, specializing in personal injury cases.
Vrdolyak's brother, Victor Vrdolyak (1933-1992), would also serve as a Chicago alderman (being elected in 1987 to succeed Edward on the city council).
In 1968, Vrdolyak was elected as Democratic committeeman from Chicago's 10th ward in the Hegewisch and South Deering areas; a position he continued to hold 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 1974, Vrdolyak unsuccessfully ran for Cook County Assessor. Originally, the Democratic incumbent P. J. Cullerton had been intending to seek re-election. However, Vrdolyak led an effort to have Cullerton denied slating (endorsement ahead of the primary election) by the Cook County Democratic Party organization, and Cullerton decided to forgo re-election and endorsed the candidacy of Tom Tully. Tully was able to secure the county party slating, but Vrdolyak opted to run against him in the primary. While Vrdolyak was widely regarded as the front-runner to win the primary, Tully defeated him by a large margin.
Vrdolyak was the campaign manager of Mayor Michael A. Bilandic's re-election bid in 1979. In a colossal upset, Bilandic narrowly lost the Democratic primary to maverick challenger Jane Byrne. After she took office as mayor, Byrne stripped Vrdolyak of all his powers as council president. However, over the course of her term as mayor, he came to be Byrne's chief ally against both independent and Regular Democrats, and was ultimately made her floor leader in the Council. In 1982, with Byrne's support, he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, ousting County Board President George Dunne.
Recent media