List of Chicago alderpersons since 1923

The Chicago City Council assumed its modern form on April 16,[dates 1] 1923, with fifty wards each electing one alderperson. Here is a list of the people who have served as an alderperson since that time.

Since its incorporation as a city in 1837 Chicago had been divided into wards whose number varied[a] but which were almost[b] always entitled to two alderpersons. In the early 20th century it was decided that reducing the number of alderpersons to a ward to one would be a cost-saving measure, and an ordinance to that effect was passed in 1920, taking effect in 1923.

City council elections in Chicago have been formally nonpartisan since 1920. Nevertheless, many alderpersons have had,[parties 1] and continue to have, de facto partisan affiliations that are reflected in this list.

This list is organized by which side of the Chicago River the wards were on as of 1923. Numbering the wards such that those on the South Side received the first numbers, followed by in order the West and North sides was a tradition that had dated to the City's founding and division into wards in 1837.[1] Incumbent alderpersons who started a new term in 1923 are reckoned as having started their term in 1923 regardless of whenever they actually started holding office, which is noted in the "Notes" column.

History

Chicago was incorporated in 1837 and initially comprised six wards.

South Side (Wards 1–19)

1st Ward

Further information: 1st ward, Chicago

Originally covering the Loop, Near South Side, and the northern part of Armour Square, this ward was significantly moved to its current location in 1993 to help stymie corruption.

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   John Coughlin April 16, 1923
–
November 11, 1938 		Democratic[parties 2] Had been serving since 1892
Died in office
2   Michael Kenna April 12, 1939
–
April 9, 1943 		Democratic[parties 2] Had previously served from 1897 to 1923
3   John Budinger April 9, 1943
–
1951 		Democratic Had previously served (previous iteration of) the 4th ward from 1910 to 1912
4   John D'Arco Sr. 1951
–
1963 		Democratic
5   Michael Fiorito February 16
–
May 6, 1963 		Democratic Resigned
6   Donald Parrillo 1963
–
1968 		Democratic
7   Fred Roti 1968
–
1991 		Democratic
8   Ted Mazola 1991
–
1995 		Democratic
9   Jesse Granato 1995
–
May 19, 2003 		Democratic
10   Manuel Flores May 19, 2003
–
January 4, 2010 		Democratic Appointed to be Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission
11   Proco Joe Moreno March 26, 2010
–
May 20, 2019 		Democratic
12   Daniel La Spata May 20, 2019
–
present 		Democratic

2nd Ward

Further information: 2nd ward, Chicago

Originally covering Douglas and its immediate surroundings, this ward has drastically moved northward to its current location across the Near North Side and West Town.

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Louis B. Anderson April 16, 1923
–
1933 		Republican Had been serving since 1917
2   William L. Dawson 1933
–
April 12, 1939 		Republican[parties 1]
3   Earl B. Dickerson April 12, 1939
–
April 9, 1943 		Democratic
4 William H. Harvey April 9, 1943
–
December 20, 1968 		Became a County Commissioner
5 Fred D. Hubbard March 11, 1969
–
March 16, 1972
6   William Barnett August 15, 1972
–
1983 		Democratic
7   Bobby Rush 1983
–
1993 		Democratic
8   Madeline Haithcock 1993
–
May 21, 2007 		Democratic
9   Robert Fioretti May 21, 2007
–
May 2015 		Democratic
10   Brian K. Hopkins May 2015
–
present 		Democratic

3rd Ward

Further information: 3rd ward, Chicago
No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Robert R. Jackson April 16, 1923
–
April 12, 1939 		Republican[parties 1] Had been serving then-2nd ward since 1918
2   Benjaim A. Grant April 12, 1939
–
April 9, 1943
3   Oscar Stanton De Priest April 9, 1943
–
1947 		Republican Had previously served then-2nd ward from 1915 to 1917
4   Archibald Carey Jr. 1947
–
1955 		Republican
5   Ralph Metcalfe 1955
–
December 1970 		Democratic Became a Congressman
6 Tyrone T. Kenner February 23, 1971
–
February 11, 1985
7   Dorothy Tillman February 11, 1985
–
April 27, 2007 		Democratic
8   Pat Dowell April 27, 2007
–
Present 		Democratic

4th Ward

Further information: 4th ward, Chicago
No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Ulysses S. Schwartz April 16, 1923
–
1925 		Had been serving then-3rd ward since 1916
2   Berthold A. Cronson 1925
–
December 23, 1937 		Republican[parties 1] Died in office
3   Abraham H. Cohen April 12, 1939
–
1955
4 Claude Holman 1955
–
June 1, 1973 		Died in office
5 Timothy C. Evans November 27, 1973
–
1991
6   Toni Preckwinkle 1991
–
2010 		Democratic
7   Shirley Newsome 2010
–
May 2011
8   William D. Burns May 2011
–
February 2016 		Democratic
9   Sophia King April 16, 2016
–
present 		Democratic

5th Ward

Further information: 5th ward, Chicago

6th Ward

Further information: 6th ward, Chicago


  • William E. Hall

7th Ward

Further information: 7th ward, Chicago

8th Ward

William D. Meyering

9th Ward

Anthony Beale
Further information: 9th ward, Chicago
  • Sheldon M. Govier
  • Arthur G. Lindell (Republican[parties 1])
  • Reginald DuBois
  • Dominic J. Lupo
  • Alexander A. Adduci
  • Robert Shaw
  • Perry H. Hutchinson
  • Robert Shaw
  • Melvin Powell Sr.[2]
  • Anthony Beale

10th Ward

Further information: 10th ward, Chicago

11th Ward

Further information: 11th ward, Chicago

12th Ward

George Cardenas

13th Ward

Frank Olivo
  • Joseph B. McDonough
  • Thomas A. Doyle
  • John E. Egan (Democratic[parties 1])
  • Michael P. Hogan
  • John E. Egan
  • David W. Healy
  • Casamir J. Staszcuk
  • John S. Madrzyk
  • Frank Olivo
  • Marty Quinn

14th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   William R. O'Toole April 16, 1923
–
1931 		Democratic Had been serving then-30th ward since 1914
2 Thomas J. O'Grady 1931
–
1933
3   James J. McDermott 1933
–
December 3, 1942 		Democratic[parties 1] Elected to Cook County Board of Appeals
4 Clarence P. Wagner April 9, 1943
–
July 10, 1953 		Died in office
5   Joseph P. Burke November 3, 1953
–
May 11, 1968 		Democratic Died in office
6   Edward M. Burke March 14, 1969
–
Present 		Democratic

15th Ward

Raymond Lopez

16th Ward

Terence Moran

17th Ward

18th Ward

  • Patrick F. Ryan
  • Walter W. Morris
  • Harry E. Perry (Democratic[parties 1])
  • Bernard J. O'Hallaren
  • Thomas J. Corcoran
  • Frank J. McGrath
  • James C. Murray
  • Edward J. Hines
  • Robert T. Kellam
  • Thomas W. Murphy
  • Lona Lane
  • Derrick Curtis

19th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Donald S. McKinlay April 16, 1923
–
1928 		Democratic[parties 3] Resigned to become a judge[3]
2   O.E. Northrup 1929
–
1935 		Republican[parties 1]
3 John J. Duffy 1935
–
December 1, 1950 		Elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners
4 David T. McKiernan 1951
–
May 25, 1957 		Died in office
5 Thomas F. Fitzpatrick September 17, 1957
–
April 1, 1975
6   Jeremiah E. Joyce April 1, 1975
–
February 1, 1979 		Democratic Elected to the Illinois General Assembly for the 28th district
7   Michael F. Sheahan April 16, 1979
–
1991 		Democratic
8   Virginia Rugai 1991
–
2011 		Democratic
9   Matthew O'Shea 2011
–
present 		Democratic

West Side (Wards 20–41)

20th Ward

21st Ward

22nd Ward

23rd Ward

24th Ward

25th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   John Powers April 16, 1923
–
1927 		Democratic Had been serving then-19th ward since 1905 and previously from 1888 to 1904
2   James Bowler 1927
–
June 7, 1934
February 26, 1935
–
July 11, 1953 		Democratic[parties 1] Had previously served then-19th ward between 1906 and 1923
Briefly vacated office to become a Public Vehicle License Commissioner
Became a Congressman representing IL-7
3   Vito Marzullo November 3, 1953
–
1985 		Democratic
4 Juan Soliz 1985
–
1991
5 Ambrosio Medrano 1991
–
1996
6   Daniel Solis 1996
–
2019 		Democratic
7 Byron Sigcho-Lopez 2019
–
present

26th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Joseph A. Mendel April 16, 1923
–
1927
2   Frank A. Sloan 1927
–
1933
3   Frank E. Konkowski 1933
–
1939 		Republican[parties 1] Redistricted from the 31st ward
Died in office
4 Alexander J. Sobota 1939
–
June 23, 1944 		Died in office
5 Mathew William Bieszczat February 5, 1945
–
November 8, 1960 		Elected bailiff of Municipal Court of Chicago
6   Stanley M. Zydlo February 26, 1963
–
April 16, 1979
7 Michael Nardulli 1979
–
1986
8 Luis Gutiérrez May 2, 1986
–
December 12, 1992 		Democratic
9 Billy Ocasio 1994
–
2009 		Democratic
10 Roberto Maldonado 2009
–
present 		Democratic

27th Ward

27th ward in
  1923[maps 1]
  2019[maps 2]
No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   John J. Touhy April 16, 1923
–
December 1, 1926[dates 2] 		Democratic[dates 2] Had been serving then-18th ward since 1917
Resigned to take office as a Sanitary District Trustee[dates 2]
2   Harry C. Van Norman 1927
–
October 11, 1929[dates 3] 		Democratic Died in office[dates 3]
3   Jeremiah P. Leahy April 25, 1930[dates 4]
–
1933 		Democratic[parties 4]
4   Harry L. Sain 1933
–
February 23, 1971 		Democratic[parties 5]
5   Eugene Ray February 23, 1971
–
1983 		Democratic[parties 5]
6   Wallace Davis Jr. 1983 - 1987 Democratic
7   Sheneather Y. Butler 1987 - 1991 Democratic
8   Rickey R. Hendon 1991
–
January 13, 1993 		Democratic Elected to the Illinois Senate for the 5th district
9   Dexter G. Watson 1993
–
May 1995 		Democratic
10   Walter Burnett Jr. May 1995
–
present 		Democratic

28th Ward

29th Ward

30th Ward

  • John S. Clark Jr. (Democratic[parties 1])
  • Edward J. Upton
  • Edmund J. Hughes
  • Daniel J. Ronan
  • Edwin H. McMahon
  • Elmer R. Filippini
  • George A. Hagopian
  • George J. Hagopian
  • Carole Bialczak
  • Michael Wojcik
  • Ariel Reboyras

31st Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Stanley Adamkiewicz April 16, 1923
–
1929 		Democratic[parties 3] Had previously served then-17th ward from 1917 to 1921
2   Frank E. Konkowski 1929
–
1933 		Republican[parties 1] Redistricted to the 26th ward
3   Thomas Patrick Keane 1933
–
July 13, 1945 		Democratic[parties 1] Redistricted from the 34th ward
Died in office
4 Thomas E. Keane September 4, 1945
–
October 9, 1974 		Convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy
5 Adeline Keane February 25, 1975
–
1979
6 Chester Kuta April 16, 1979
–
November 30, 1981 		Resigned
7 Joseph A. Martinez December 11, 1981
–
1983
8 Miguel Santiago 1983

-

1987

9 Raymond Figueroa 1987

-

1991

10 Ray Suarez 1991
–
May 2015
11 Milly Santiago May 2015
–
May 20, 2019
12 Felix Cardona, Jr. May 20, 2019
–
Present

32nd Ward

32nd ward in
  1923[maps 1]
  2019[maps 3]
No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Joseph H. Smith April 16, 1923
–
1933 		Democratic[parties 3] Had been serving then-14th ward since 1914
2   Joseph P. Rostenkowski 1933
–
1955 		Democratic[parties 1] Redistricted from 33rd ward
3 Bernard C. Prusinski 1955
–
1959
4 Robert J. Sulski 1959
–
November 28, 1968 		Became a Circuit Court Judge
5   Terry Gabinski March 12, 1969
–
May 21, 1998 		Democratic
6   Theodore Matlak May 21, 1998
–
May 20, 2007 		Democratic
7   Scott Waguespack May 20, 2007
–
present 		Democratic

33rd Ward

34th Ward

35th Ward

36th Ward

37th Ward

  • Wiley W. Mills (Democratic[parties 3])
  • James H. Taylor
  • Wiley W. Mills
  • Roger J. Kiley (Democratic[parties 1])
  • Francis E. Callahan
  • William J. Lancaster
  • Paul T. Corcoran
  • Thomas J. Casey
  • Frank A. Damato
  • Percy Z. Giles
  • Emma Mitts

38th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Max Adamowski April 16, 1923
–
July 16, 1929[dates 5] 		Democratic Had been serving then-22nd ward since 1916
Died in office[dates 5]
2   Frank H. Landmesser 1929
–
1933 		Democratic
3   Henry J. Wieland 1933
–
1935 		Democratic[parties 1]
4 Patrick J. Cullerton 1935
–
April 17, 1958 		Elected Cook County Assessor
5 William J. Cullerton 1959
–
April 14, 1973 		Died in office
6 Thomas W. Cullerton November 27, 1973
–
1993 		Died in office
7 Thomas R. Allen 1993
–
2010 		Became a judge of the Cook County Illinois Circuit Court
8 Timothy Cullerton 2011
–
2013
9 Nicholas Sposato 2013
–
present 		Independent (since 2017)
Democratic (before 2017) 		Redistricted from 36th ward

39th Ward

40th Ward

41st Ward

North Side (Wards 42–50)

42nd Ward

42nd ward in
  1923[maps 1]
  2019[maps 4]

This ward, historically covering most of the Near North Side, has recently moved slightly south to also encompass the northern part of the Loop.

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Dorsey Crowe April 16, 1923
–
July 1, 1962 		Democratic[parties 1] Had been serving then-21st ward since 1919
Died in office
2   Mayer Goldberg February 26, 1963
–
November 29, 1968 		Democratic Became a Circuit Court Judge
3   Raymond K. Fried March 11, 1969
–
January 26, 1970 		Democratic Died in office
4   Burton Natarus 1971
–
2007 		Democratic
5   Brendan Reilly 2007
–
Present 		Democratic

43rd Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Arthur F. Albert April 16, 1923
–
October 31, 1927 		Republican Had been serving then-22nd ward since 1921
Albert lost the first round of the 1927 election to Haffa, but had been granted a runoff that he would win. However, the runoff was disputed and the Council unseated him in favor of Haffa, claiming that the judge who had granted the runoff had erred in counting spoiled ballots to determine the majority Haffa needed to avoid a runoff.
2   Titus Haffa 1927
–
1929 		Republican Disputed with Albert until October 31, 1927, see above.
1   Arthur F. Albert 1929
–
1931 		Republican
3   James B. Waller 1931
–
1933 		Republican
4   Paddy Bauler 1933
–
April 9, 1943 		Democratic[parties 1]
3   James B. Waller April 9, 1943
–
1947 		Republican
4   Paddy Bauler 1947
–
1967 		Democratic[parties 1]
5   George B. McCutcheon April 4, 1967
–
1971 		Republican
6 William Singer 1971
–
1975
7   Martin J. Oberman 1975
–
1987 		Democratic
8   Edwin Eisendrath 1987
–
1993 		Democratic
9 Charles Bernardini 1993
–
1999
10 Vi Daley 1999
–
May 16, 2011
11 Michele Smith May 16, 2011
–
August 12, 2022 		Democratic
12 Timmy Knudsen September 21, 2022
–
Present 		Democratic

44th Ward

45th Ward

John Arena

46th ward

47th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Harry W. Klinke April 16, 1923
–
1925 		Republican[parties 3]
2   John J. Hoellen Sr. 1925
–
1933 		Republican
3   Albert F. Schultz 1933
–
1939 		Democratic[parties 1]
4 Frank O. Hilburn 1939
–
1947
5   John J. Hoellen Jr. 1947
–
1975 		Republican
6   Eugene Schulter February 25, 1975
–
May 16, 2011 		Democratic
7   Ameya Pawar May 16, 2011
–
May 20, 2019 		Democratic
8 Matt Martin May 20, 2019
–
Present

48th Ward

Harry Osterman

49th Ward

No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   Eli I. Frankhauser April 16, 1923
–
November 1929[dates 6] 		Republican[dates 6] Had been serving then-25th ward since 1921
Elected Superior Court Judge[dates 6]
2   George A. Williston May 1930[dates 7]
–
1935 		Republican[parties 1]
3 Frank Keenan 1935
–
December 1, 1950 		Elected to Cook County Board of Tax Appeals
4 Thomas C. Keegan 1951
–
November 1, 1951 		Died in office
5 Brian J. Ducey 1951
–
1955 		Resigned
6 David J. Hartigan 1955
–
April 28, 1959 		Died in office
7 Paul T. Wigoda November 3, 1959
–
October 10, 1974 		Convicted of Income Tax evasion
8 Esther Saperstein February 25, 1975
–
April 16, 1979
9   David Orr 1979
–
1990 		Democratic
10 Robert Clarke 1990
–
1991
11   Joe Moore 1991
–
May 20, 2019 		Democratic
12 Maria Hadden May 20, 2019
–
present

50th Ward

50th ward in
  1923[maps 1]
  2019[maps 5]
No. Alderperson Term in office Party Notes
1   William H. Pontow April 16, 1923
–
1927 		Democratic[parties 3]
2   Aron K. Mose 1927
–
1929 		Republican
3   Curtis F. Mellin 1929
–
1931 		Republican
4   James R. Quinn 1931
–
June 21, 1945 		Democratic[parties 1] Resigned
5 Jerome Huppert September 4, 1945
–
1947
6 Alban Weber 1947
–
1951
7 Robert S. Bremer 1951
–
1955
8   Jack I. Sperling 1955
–
February 1, 1973 		Republican Became a Circuit Court Judge
9   Bernard Stone 1973
–
2011 		Democratic (1973–1987; 1990–2011)
Republican (1987–1990)
10 Debra Silverstein 2011
–
present

Notes

  1. ^ They were six in 1837 and 35 immediately prior to 1923.
  2. ^ The 3rd and 5th wards were entitled to one alderman each until 1839.

References

  1. ^ "Ward Map – 11 February 1837". Chicagology. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Washburn, Gary (February 11, 1999). "Eatery Measure Approved On Council Menu". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Flynn, Carol (August 2, 2022). "Democrats Dominate History of 19th Ward". The Beverly Review. Retrieved December 19, 2024.

Dates

  1. ^ "Englewood Happenings". Suburbanite Economist. April 13, 1923. Retrieved September 16, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Resign Council seats to take other offices". Chicago Tribune. December 2, 1926. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "City Hall will close in homage to Van Norman". Chicago Sunday Tribune. October 13, 1929. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "Jeremiah P. Leahy Takes Oath as Council Member". Chicago Tribune. April 26, 1930. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Ald. Adamowski will be buried next Saturday". Chicago Tribune. July 18, 1929. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Evans, Arthur (November 6, 1929). "22 Candidates on Democratic slate swept in". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "Williston Wins Council Seat by 2,419 over Dever". Chicago Tribune. May 7, 1930. Retrieved April 4, 2019.

Partisan affiliations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay "The New City Council". Chicago Tribune. April 5, 1933. Retrieved April 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Fremon p. 25
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Final Results on Aldermen". Chicago Tribune. Vol. 82, no. 81C. April 4, 1923. p. 4. Retrieved April 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Democracy's leaders urge the nomination of Judge Henry Horner". Chicago Tribune. April 10, 1932. Retrieved March 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Fremon p. 180

Ward maps

  1. ^ a b c d "1930 Census Chicago, Illinois Ward Boundaries". A look at Cook. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "Ward 27" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "Ward 32" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ward 42" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ward 50" (PDF). CityOfChicago.org. City of Chicago. Retrieved April 4, 2019.

Bibliography

  • Fremon, David K. (1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Bloomington, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-31344-9.