Martin J. Oberman

Martin J. Oberman served as alderman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward from 1975 until 1987.^[1] He ran for Illinois Attorney General in 1981, 1986, and again in 1994. Currently, he is a lawyer in private practice.^[2]

Early life and education

In 1907, Marty’s grandfather brought the Oberman family to Springfield, Illinois where he opened up a grocery store. His father, M.D. “Mush” Oberman, was active in Springfield community affairs for forty years. His second son, Martin Jay, was born on April 23, 1945. At the age of 13, Marty was appointed as a page in the United States House of Representatives. Aside from the Capitol Page School, he attended Springfield’s Butler Grade School, Springfield High School, and graduated valedictorian from Culver Military Academy in 1962. In 1966, he received his B.A. from Yale University, and in 1969, graduated Order of the Coif at Wisconsin Law School where he also served as Note Editor of the University of Wisconsin Law Review.

Career and Politics

After nearly three years (1969–1972) as a lawyer with the Chicago firm of Leibman, Williams, Bennett, Baird, and Minow, Marty became General Counsel to the Illinois Racing Board under the reform chairmanship of Anthony Scariano where he investigated and prosecuted various corrupt racing interests in License Revocation proceedings for political payoffs, race-fixing and horse drugging.

In 1975, Marty was elected Alderman from Chicago’s independent 43rd Ward and continued his fight to bring honest, fair and accountable government to the people of Illinois. He was an acknowledged expert of the city budget and a constant adversary of the Chicago City Council’s heavy-handed political majority. In 1979 and again in 1983, he was re-elected as Alderman.

From 1983 to 1986, Marty was a leader of the forces supporting Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African American mayor, who was taking on the Machine in what became known as the “Council Wars.”

After leaving the City Council, Oberman was appointed Chairman of the Shore Protection Commission, which was tasked with doing a complete rehabilitation of Chicago's shoreline while ensuring the highest degree of environmental protection.

Twice — in 1986 and 1994—he ran in tough races for Illinois Attorney General promising to make the attorney general’s office truly a people’s office. His professional associations include: Chicago Council of Lawyers, American Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. He was president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers in 1996-97.

At present, Marty practices law in the private sector.

Family life

Marty lives in Chicago with his wife Bonnie Oberman who is the Chicago Director of Facing History and Ourselves.^[3] His son, Justin, 35, is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Ct) and is a candidate for Illinois State Treasurer in the 2010 primary. His daughter, Maren, 32, is a graduate of Yale University and Simmons College and is a staff member at the Chicago New Teachers Center where she works at teaching teachers how to teach better.

References

1. ^ http://www.chicityclerk.com/
2. ^ http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_8md2tc
3. ^ http://www.facinghistory.org/news/community-conversation-with-marco-williams

Persondata
Name	Oberman, Martin J.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death