Bernard Stone

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Bernard 'Berny' L. Stone (born November 24, 1927) is alderman of the 50th Ward in Chicago, Illinois. The 50th ward encompasses part of Chicago's North Side and includes the West Rogers Park neighborhood.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Born 1927, Stone is the oldest alderman on the Chicago City Council. First elected to the Council in 1973, he is also the second longest-serving alderman (after Ed Burke). Stone is also vice mayor of Chicago.

Stone was a member of the "Vrdolyak 29" who were allegedly responsible for organized political opposition to Mayor Harold Washington.

[edit] First Attempt at Elected Office

In 1956, Stone ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the Illinois state House of Representatives.[1]

[edit] The Republican Years (1987-1990)

Alderman Stone announced he joined the Republican Party and his intention to run for Cook County Recorder of Deeds on Thursday, October 29, 1987. "I found the party I have supported since 1932 has changed completely," Stone said in a press conference. "The party I thought stood for all the people stands for special interests."[2] Former Alderman and former Cook County Democratic chairman Edward R.Vrdolyak, a recent convert to the GOP ... encouraged Stone to become a Republican and to run for recorder. "I can no longer be part of a party [ Democratic Party ] that punishes law-abiding, tax-paying citizens and communities," Stone said. Stone, who is Jewish, said another factor in his switch was that "the Democratic Party is drifting away from America's historically strong commitment to Israel."[3] By threatening to run for Chairman of the Republican Party of Cook County, and for Cook County State's Attorney, Vrdolyak brokered a deal to slate himself for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and Stone for Cook County Recorder of Deeds.[4]

[edit] First Attempt at Mayor

Less than a month later, Wednesday, November 25, 1987, Harold Washington, Chicago's first African American mayor, died suddenly in office. Under Illinois State law it fell to the Council to name a successor. The Aldermen caucused along racial lines, and, although one of just two Republican aldermen, Stone caucused with the white aldermen. Stone nominated himself for Mayor, announcing his candidacy to his caucus on Sunday, November 29, 1987 and at a City Hall press conference at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 1, 1987. Few took Stone's candidacy seriously; many saw it as a publicity ploy for his Recorder race. Two days later Alderman Eugene Sawyer would be selected to succeed Washington.[5]

[edit] Race for Recorder of Deeds

In 1988 Stone ran as a Republican against Democratic Illinois State Representative Carol Moseley Braun, who is black, for Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Stone told reporters he didn't expect their newspapers to endorse him. "Just run a picture of Braun," Stone said. "That's all I ask." Disappointed that few people were focusing on the racial factor in the recorder's election, Stone went for the backlash vote by taking the politically unusual step of featuring Braun's photograph in his own campaign literature.[6] Stone was soundly defeated by Braun and contributed to a sweep of Cook County offices by Democrats.[7]

[edit] Second Attempt at Mayor

In 1989 Stone unsuccessfully sought the Republican slating for Mayor of Chicago, to run against Democrat Richard M. Daley.[8] Daley, who is white, succeeded Eugene Sawyer, who is black, as Mayor, and in 1990 Stone returned to the Democratic Party.[9]

[edit] More Recent Events

In 2000, Stone apologized for slavery during a debate on slave reparations[citation needed].

In 2003, Stone's son, Jay, launched an unsuccessful attempt to unseat 32nd Ward Alderman Theodore Matlak. Stone publicly supported Matlak, calling his son "an embarrassment" who "doesn't know what he's doing." Despite Jay Stone's overwhelming defeat at the polls, father and son reportedly are still on good terms.[10]

In 2006, Stone voted against an ordinance entitled "AMENDMENT OF TITLE 4 OF MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO BY CREATION OF NEW CHAPTER 404 ENTITLED "LARGE RETAILERS",[11], popularly known as the "Living Wage Ordinance" or "Big Box Ordinance", a measure supported by organized labor which would have required large retail stores to pay a $10 per hour minimum wage. Weeks later, Stone successfully championed a pay raise for the Chicago City Council which will up each alderman's salary to more than $100,000 per year over the course of the next four years. These two votes were criticized by the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO).

In March 2007, an area near Stone's office was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti [1].

[edit] Committees

Stone serves on seven committees: Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Finance; Historical Landmark Preservation; Housing and Real Estate; Traffic Control and Safety; and Zoning. Alderman Stone also serves as the Chairman of the Building Committee.

[edit] Personal Life

Stone's favorite foods are Reese's peanut butter cups and bacon.[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ HOWARD, ROBERT. "12 LOSE SEATS IN CONTESTS FOR ASSEMBLY", Chicago Daily Tribune, 1956-04-12, p. 10. 
  2. ^ Dold, R. Bruce. "ALD. STONE TO RUN FOR RECORDER AS REPUBLICAN", Chicago Tribune, 1987-10-30, p. 7. 
  3. ^ Neal, Steve. "Ald. Stone joins GOP, plans to run for recorder", Chicago Sun-Times, 1987-10-30, p. 19. 
  4. ^ Herrmann, Andrew. "Vrdolyak, Stone slated by GOP", Chicago Sun-Times, 1987-11-01, p. 7. 
  5. ^ Fremon, David (1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Indiana University Press, 343-353. ISBN 0253313449. 
  6. ^ Neal, Steve. "Stone's tactics are unlikely to dim Braun's rising star", Chicago Sun-Times, 1988-11-08, p. 2. 
  7. ^ Spielman, Fran. "Ex-Dems are blamed for GOP county losses", Chicago Sun-Times, 1988-11-10, p. 12. 
  8. ^ Dold, R. Bruce. "DALEY? MAYORAL FIELD TRIES TO LOOK AWAY", Chicago Tribune, 1988-12-06, p. 4. 
  9. ^ "The return of the prodigal Stone", Chicago Tribune, 1990-12-10, p. 14. 
  10. ^ Joravsky, Ben. "Stone Rocks the Boat", Chicago Reader, 2004-05-20. 
  11. ^ “UNFINISHED BUSINESS”, Chicago City Council Journal of Proceedings: 83061-83070, 2006-07-26, <http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/journals/072606meeting/22UnfinishedBusiness/pgs83061-83072.pdf> 
  12. ^ Newbart, Dave. "Friends, family and city aldermen turn out to help mark 80th birthday", Chicago Sun-Times, 2007-11-20. 

[edit] External links

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