Michael Howlett
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Michael J. Howlett (August 30, 1914 - May 4, 1992) served three terms as state of Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts (predecessor to the office of Comptroller) (1961-1973) and became Illinois Secretary of State in 1973, serving in that position until 1977.
Howlett was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois in 1976. He defeated incumbent Daniel Walker in the Democratic primary, only to lose to Republican nominee James R. Thompson in the general election.
Howlett was born in Chicago, a son of Irish immigrants. He graduated from St. Mel High School and briefly attended De Paul University, leaving the latter in 1934 to became a state bank examiner. Subsequently, he founded his own insurance business, served as Chicago-area director of the National Youth Administration, was an executive for the Chicago Park District, was appointed regional director of the U.S. Office of Price Stabilization and was a steel company executive. He was also a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
In 1956, Howlett ran for Illinois Auditor and is credited with exposing embezzlement by incumbent Auditor Orville Hodge of more than $1.5 million in state funds. Hodge resigned and eventually went to prison, but Howlett lost the general election to Elbert Smith, Hodge's appointed successor, as part of a national Republican landslide.
After his loss in the 1976 governor's race, Howlett opened a private consulting business.
Howlett died in Chicago's Mercy Hospital of chronic kidney failure.
