| Thomas M. Tunney | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 44th Ward |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Bernie Hansen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1955 Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Website | tomtunney.com |
Thomas M. Tunney (born August 22, 1955) is an American entrepreneur and politician from Chicago, Illinois. Since 2003, he has served as an alderman on the Chicago City Council. He represents the prominent 44th Ward of the city, which includes major tourist destinations, Boystown and Wrigleyville neighborhoods.
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Tunney was born and raised in the southwest side of Chicago. After graduating from Brother Rice, a local Catholic high school, he attended the University of Illinois where he obtained his bachelor's degree in restaurant management. Tunney succeeded in obtaining a master's degree in hotel administration from Cornell University.
Returning from college, Tunney settled into the Lakeview neighborhood. Hearing that Ann Sather was retiring and closing her restaurant in Lakeview in 1981, Tunney met with Sather, offering a proposal to purchase her business. Tunney gained full ownership of the Ann Sather Restaurant and expanded it into a successful local chain.[1][2]
Tunney joined several prestigious entrepreneurial circles and became chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association. He founded and led the Lakeview Center Business Association and White Crane Wellness Center. As a result of his success, Tunney was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1995.
Tunney opened his restaurants to grassroots and nonprofit organizations as town halls, serving as free meeting places. He committed himself to helping people with HIV and AIDS through programs he created, adopted by the Illinois Masonic Hospital. With a growing business network, Tunney became a fundraiser for local gay and lesbian political advocacy groups.
Tunney chaired the small business subcommittee of the Chicago Economic Development Committee. Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Tunney to the mayor's Parking Task Force.
In 2002, just months before the 2003 municipal elections, 44th Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen announced that he would retire. Hansen resigned just months before the election so as to allow the mayor to appoint the replacement alderman. Mayor Richard M. Daley, with Hansen's consent, nominated Tunney to replace Hansen in December 2002. Tunney's nomination was confirmed by a 41–0 vote of the city council on January 16, 2003, and, with the support of the political machine of Chicago's Democratic Party, Tunney was elected to a four-year term as alderman on February 25, 2003. He has been re-elected twice, in 2007 and 2011.
Tunney said during his campaign for alderman that he would sell his interest in four Ann Sather restaurants in order to serve as a full-time alderman and to eliminate a potential conflict of interest. After being elected and sworn in, Tunney decided not to sell.[3]
Tunney introduced an ordinance repealing Chicago's ban on foie gras in July 2007 and spearheaded passage of the repeal on May 14, 2008.[4][5]
On May 11, 2009, Tunney suspended longtime aide Zodak Yonan, who parked at parking meters without paying, while using a fake "Official 44th Ward Business" placard.[6] The placard featured the Chicago city seal. City ordinance forbids unauthorized use of the seal. Yonan was paid by the city as a contract employee, working about 100 hours a month in Tunney's office for $10 an hour. Yonan is also a voter registrar for the 44th Ward Democrats.[7] On Friday, July 3, 2009, just about 5:30 p.m. before a holiday weekend, Tunney sent out an e-mail announcing Yonan had "retired."[8]
Tunney is the cousin of Robin Tunney, who plays Agent Lisbon on The Mentalist.[9]
Tunney is one of two openly gay members of the Chicago City Council, alongside James Cappleman of the 46th Ward.[10]
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