Patrick O'Malley

Patrick O'Malley (born October 22, 1950 in Evergreen Park, Illinois) is a former Illinois State Senator, gubernatorial candidate and served as elected member of the board of trustees and Chairman of the Finance Committee for Moraine Valley Community College from 1989 to 1992. [ [http://www.star.niu.edu/features/gubernatorial_election_2002/profiles/omalley_timeline.html Northern Star Gubernatorial election 2002 Patrick O'Malley timeline] ]

Personal history

Patrick O'Malley is a '68 graduate of Marist High School. O'Malley has a bachelor's degree in economics and a masters degree in finance from Purdue University, as well as a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School. O'Malley currently resides in Palos Park, Illinois with his wife Mary Judith, they have two adult children; Brigid and Patrick. His uncle-in-law is former congressman Morgan Murphy.

Illinois State Senate

Patrick O'Malley served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate for five two year terms, representing the 18th district from 1993-2003. While State Senator he was a member of a group of conservative state senators elected in 1992 who often challenged the leadership of the Illinois Republican Party and were dubbed the "Fab Five", the group also included, Peter Fitzgerald, Dave Syverson, Steve Rauschenberger and, Chris Lauzen. As State Senator O'Malley served as Chairman of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee; Vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee; member of the Senate Insurance and Pensions Committee; and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. [ [http://www.star.niu.edu/features/gubernatorial_election_2002/profiles/omalley_profile.html Northern Star Gubernatorial election 2002 Patrick O'Malley profile] ]

Gubernatorial campaign

Patrick O'Malley ran for governor in 2002 on a conservative platform [ [http://www.star.niu.edu/features/gubernatorial_election_2002/profiles/omalley_issues.html Northern Star Gubernatorial election 2002 Patrick O'Malley - The issues] ] and described himself as a "Pro-life Catholic", and "Reagan conservative". O'Malley's self described political philosophy was, " to take the principles of the Republican Party as I see them, limited government, low taxes, individual freedoms, and keeping free enterprise vibrant and strong" [ [http://www.chron.org/tools/viewart.php?artid=311 O'Malley promises to clean up Illinois] Brian Yeado, Northwestern Chronicle. February 21, 2002.] . In Patrick O'Malley's run for governor he ran a notable ad meant to link his strongest opponent, Attorney General Jim Ryan to incumbent Governor George Ryan, in the ad Jim Ryan's face morphs into that of Governor George Ryan's with the voice over, "We know the truth about George Ryan, what about Jim"?". O'Malley came in second in the Republican primary with 253,217 votes, losing to Attorney General Jim Ryan. His campaign's Youth Director was Erika Harold, who would later that year become Miss Illinois, and then Miss America.

Electoral history

*2002 Republican Gubernatorial Primary
** Jim Ryan 45%
** Patrick O'Malley 29%
** Corinne Wood 27%

References