Wilson Frost

Wilson Frost (born December 27, 1925) is a former Chicago alderman of the 34th Ward. In 1976, upon the death of longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, Frost declared that he was now acting mayor, based upon his interpretation of the city charter and the fact that he was serving as President Pro Tempore of the City Council. However, Wilson found himself literally locked out of the mayor's office—he was told that the keys could not be found.^[1] In a power struggle that lasted several days, the entirely Democratic city council determined that Frost was incorrect in his claim, and appointed Alderman Michael Bilandic^[2] as acting mayor instead. Had he been elected mayor, Wilson Frost would have been Chicago's first African American mayor.

Life and Political career

Born in Cairo, Illinois, Frost graduated from Fisk University and later went to Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he got his law degree and was admitted to the Illinois bar. Frost, a lawyer, was first elected as an alderman in 1967,^[3] representing the 21st Ward. He was a Regular Democrat, and his elevation to the position of president pro tempore was a reward for his service. However, the majority of Chicagoans in the mid-1970s were highly resistant to the notion of a black mayor, and the power brokers even more so.^[3] To appease African American voters, the city council replaced Finance Committee chairman Edward Vrdolyak with Frost;^[2] the chairmanship carried some real power, as opposed to the titular position of council president pro tempore. To clarify the mayoral succession process, a new position of "Vice-Mayor" was created. Wilson continued to serve on the city council until 1987. The last public office that he held was Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals, from which he retired in 1998.^[3]

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