Edward Acevedo

Infobox_State_Representative


name=Edward Acevedo


state_house=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=2nd
term=1995
preceded=
succeeded=
date of birth=birth date and age|1963|07|23
place of birth=Chicago, Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Diana Acevedo
profession=police officer
religion=
party=Democratic|

Edward "Eddie" Acevedo is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 2nd district since 1995.

Early life

Acevedo was born and raised in Chicago. He earned his associates degree in general studies from City-Wide College. Acevedo is a police officer for the Chicago Police Department, and he was decorated for heroism and valor by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for rescuing victims trapped in a fire.

State Representative

Acevedo was first elected State Representative in 1997. Recently, Acevedo was re-elected Co-Chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus for state legislators and Co-Chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. He was the first Latino appointed to his position of Assistant Majority Leader. Acevedo serves on nine committees: Appropriations for Elementary and Secondary Education; Broadband Infrastructure; Executive; Financial Institutions; International Trade and Commerce; Pay Day Loans; Pension Fund Management Procurement; Registration and Regulation; and Telecommunications.

Controversy

In 2001 Eddie Acevedo had a run-in with a fellow officer Dennis Canterbury, "when Acevedo showed up drunk at a city auto pound to get his secretary's car out," an incident that previously went unreported because the charges were dropped and Acevedo's record erased. But Acevedo pursued a lawsuit against a fellow cop -- not once, but twice -- for knocking Acevedo on his rear end. [ [http://vlex.us/vid/22530851 Acevedo, Edward v. Canterbury, D. - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - 10 Août 2006, Federal Circuits, Docket 04-4292 - vLex ] ]

The first time, the judge threw the case out. [ [http://chicagoist.com/2007/09/27/the_frivolous_l.php Chicagoist: The Frivolous Lawsuits of State Rep. Edward Acevedo ] ] The second time a jury handed Acevedo a loss. After the two court losses the taxpayers were left holding the bill. The city paid the Stellato & Schwartz law firm $132,363 to fight Acevedo, whose suit was thrown out by a judge, reinstated by the appeals court, then rejected by a federal jury in the fall of 2007. [http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/1048859,CST-NWS-watchdog10.article] He claimed Officer Dennis Canterbury punched him in the face and knocked him to the ground for no reason while Acevedo waited to get a friend's car out of a city tow lot on Lower Wacker Drive in 2001.

Canterbury's attorney, Steven Borkan, told jurors in his closing argument Acevedo was "sauced" at the time, spewing profanities at Canterbury. "This case has to do with a drunk who took a swing at a cop," Borkan said. [ [http://chicagoist.com/2007/09/27/the_frivolous_l.php Chicagoist: The Frivolous Lawsuits of State Rep. Edward Acevedo ] ]

Acevedo and his police officer friend at the time, Aaron del Valle -- later charged criminally in the city hiring probe -- tried to clout the car out of the tow lot but failed, Borkan argued. "They went there to use their clout and when it didn't work, they got mad," Borkan said.

An enraged Acevedo told a police officer at the scene: "Go f - - - yourself," court records show.

Other controversies include Eddie Acevedo receiving about $25,000 from an electrical contractor that has won millions of dollars in government work — a deal Acevedo has never reported on his ethics statements. His brother Joseph Acevedo being on disability from the City of Chicago receiving $3,600 a month even though a doctor has said he has been healthy to go back to work for over a year. [ [http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/104486,CST-NWS-disabledday2-20.article Injured workers healthy, paid to stay home :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State ] ] His other brother Manuel Acevedo was brought up on felony charges in Florida which were later dropped after allegedly punching a bouncer for not allowing an underage family member in a club. [ [http://www.illinoiscarry.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t3857.html IllinoisCarry.com > Lawmaker's trip probed by police ] ]

Election results

2008 General Election

Edward Acevedo is currently running for re-election for Office for Illinois House of Representatives for the 2nd District. Acevedo will face a challenger from Green Party's Ante "Tony" Marijan in November 2008's general election.

Voting history

Abortion

Voted for [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that allows for minors to obtain abortions without family or judicial notification by seeking counseling with a licensed medical counseling professional.

Voted against [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that allows stem cell research but prohibits human cloning.

Business and consumers

Did not vote [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] on a bill that requires thirty-three percent of an electric utility company's customers be able to use a different electric utility company in order for the electric utility company to remain competitive and prevents current electric utility rates from rising.

Voted for [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that prohibits smoking in public places. Prohibits smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles. Requires "No Smoking" signs to be posted in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited. Requires ashtrays to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Prohibits smoking in student dormitories, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, dining areas, restrooms, laundry areas, lobbies, and hallways, of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education.

Sponsored and Voted for [ [http://chicagoist.com/2007/06/19/looking_deeper.php Chicagoist: Looking Deeper at Pending Wine Shipping Legislation ] ] House Bill HB429 which as of June 1, 2008, will strip Illinois wine buyers of the right to buy wine from out-of-state wine stores. [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0527winemay27,0,18541.story Mmm, grapes of greed - Politics, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich - chicagotribune.com ] ]

Election

Did not vote [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] on bill HJRCA 28. The bill would allow a recall election by which voters can remove an elected official from office. It would require that citizens would have 160 days after filing a request for recall to collect petitions from 12% of the people who voted in the last election if they wanted to remove an elected official.

Eminent domain

Voted against [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that prohibits the use of eminent domain to acquire property for private ownership or control unless the acquisition is primarily for the benefit, use, or enjoyment of the public and is necessary for a public purpose. The bill states that unless proven otherwise, the use of eminent domain for private ownership or control of blighted areas, as defined, or by private utilities and railroads for any purpose meets these tests. The bill also requires the payment of reasonable relocation costs to individuals displaced by an eminent domain action. The bill also makes numerous other adjustments to eminent domain laws.

Energy

Sponsored' House Bill 2971, which would remove language in Illinois law which says that new nuclear plants can not be built until a solution for storing tons of radioactive waste is found. Lifting the 20 year-old moratorium on the construction of new nuclear facilities in Illinois. [ [http://wilderside.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/il-green-party-candidates-slam-bill-to-lift-nuclear-moratorium IL Green Party Candidates Slam Bill to Lift Nuclear Moratorium « On the Wilder Side ] ]

Energy relief for consumers

Voted for [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that requires Illinois electric suppliers to grant consumers an electricity relief package. Grants ComEd and Ameren customers $976 in relief from 2007 to 2010 (Sec. 16-111.5A).

Firearms

Voted 'yes' to several safety bills to crack down on individuals who sell firearms without a license.

Healthcare

Did not vote [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=21875&can_id=15161] on HB 5285 a bill that would allow for the extending parental health insurance to unmarried dependents.

Immigration

Voted for [ [http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo - Voting Record ] ] a bill that allows the Secretary of State to issue driver's certificates to an applicant who is an immigrant residing in this State, is ineligible to obtain a social security number, and is ineligible to receive a driver's license.

Property Taxes

Did not vote [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=21868&can_id=15161] on HB 4201 which would create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans.

Transportation

Voted to concur [ [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16899&can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward Acevedo on HB 656 - Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens ] ] with the Governor's amendment which proposed that any fixed route public transportation services provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, all Local Mass Districts, and certain participants in the Downstate Public Transportation Fund shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older, subject to certain residency requirements and under conditions determined by the transit board.

Voted 'yes' [ [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16770&can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward Acevedo on SB 307 - Regional Transportation Authority Funding ] ] to fund the Regional Transportation Authority through the motor fuel tax. This bill redirects 80 percent of the revenue collected from the 6.25 percent tax on motor fuel in the six Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to the Public Transportation Fund [sec. 4.09 (a)(2)] .

Voted 'yes' [ [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16794&can_id=15161 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward Acevedo on HB 656 - Transportation Act ] ] to pass a bill that amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act by increasing the rate of taxes the Authority is allowed to impose and requiring the Authority to provide oversight of the Service Boards. This bill also designates funds for the support and improvement of public transportation.- Allows the City of Chicago to impose a real estate transfer tax of up to $1.50 per $500 of value [Sec. 3-2.3(E)] .- Allows for a 0.25% increase in the sales tax in the Chicagoland metropolitan area [Sec. 4.03(e-g)] .- Outlines the distribution of tax revenues to various Service Boards (Sec. 4.03.3).

Veteran Affairs

Did not vote [http://votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=21868&can_id=15161] on HB 4201 which would createa property tax exemption for disabled veterans.

External links

* [http://vlex.us/vid/22530851] EDWARD ACEVEDO v DENNIS CANTERBURY - United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit No. 04-4292
* [http://chicagoist.com/2007/09/27/the_frivolous_l.php] The Frivolous Lawsuits of State Rep. Edward Acevedo
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040822/ai_n12553379/pg_1] Don't You Know Who I Am? Chicago Sun-Times
* [http://www.illinoiscarry.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t3857.html] Lawmaker's Trip Probed by Police.
* [http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/104486,CST-NWS-disabledday2-20.article] Healthy, but paid to stay home: Injured workers left waiting for.
* [http://ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1131 Illinois General Assembly - Representative Edward J. Acevedo (D) 2nd District] official IL House website
** [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenatorBills.asp?MemberID=1131 Bills] , [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=1131 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS042594 Project Vote Smart - Representative Edward J. Acevedo (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Edward J Acevedo
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=417161 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200414&c=395795 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200214&c=18509 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200014&c=355189 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199814&c=354777 1998] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199614&c=354382 1996] campaign contributions
* [http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/acevedoe/ Illinois State Democrats - Edward Acevedo] profile

References