Richard Phelan (politician)
American politician (1937–2024)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard John Phelan (March 29, 1937 – March 26, 2024) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. He was special counsel to the House Ethics Committee investigating Speaker Jim Wright in the late 1980s.[1] Phelan was then elected as Cook County Board President from 1990 to 1994.[2] His campaign was Chicago's and Illinois' top 1990 election in terms of coverage and importance, as Phelan brought a reform agenda, beating out the candidates of the Regular Cook County Democratic Party. His campaign included campaign manager Eric Adelstein, media consultant David Axelrod,[3] field director Pete Giangreco, Rahm Emanuel, who did opposition research, issues director Don Wiener, fundraiser Mary Beth Sova, and field assistant Troy Deckert.
Richard Phelan | |
|---|---|
| President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office December 1990 – December 1994 | |
| Preceded by | George Dunne |
| Succeeded by | John H. Stroger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2024 (aged 86) Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
Phelan was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994.[4]
Phelan died from cancer at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois, on March 26, 2024, at the age of 86.[5]
