Bernie Hansen

Bernie Hansen (born November 2, 1944) was a longtime Chicago alderman, serving on the Chicago Board of Aldermen from 1983 to 2002, when he retired as alderman of the 44th Ward citing health reasons. He is a Democrat.

Hansen was appointed to the Council when the incumbent alderman unexpectedly resigned. In 1987 he defeated Dr. Ron Sable, a liberal gay activist, by a 52% to 47% margin in the race for 44th Ward alderman. It was a hard-fought campaign in the city's 44th Ward, which at the time was the heart of the city's gay community. Sable ran against Hansen again in 1991, but lost badly to Hansen, 65% to 35%.

From 1994 to 2000, he served as one of four U.S. commissioners to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a presidential appointment to a bilateral treaty organization with Canada responsible for fisheries management research and recommendations and for sea lamprey control for the Great Lakes fisheries. For part of that time, he chaired the commission.

He sponsored or co-sponsored several human rights ordinances, including the Human Rights Ordinance expanding protection against discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, and credit to gay males, lesbians, and persons with disabilities, an ordinance to assist victims of hate crimes, and a 1997 ordinance Hansen introduced to extend health-care benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian city employees. Thomas M. Tunney, his successor as 44th Ward alderman whom accounts said Hansen had "hand-picked", became Chicago's first openly gay alderman.

Hansen was also an active proponent of environmentalist measures, including recycling programs and the extension of Chicago's moratorium against the creation of new landfills.

Some residents of the Lakeview community have voiced concern that Hansen was more concerned with building expensive condos and co-ops, then re-building the neighborhood with affordable housing during his tenure.

He serves on the board of many community councils as well as fund raising organizations, including the John Merlo Sports Program.

Interestingly enough, John Merlo was the son of Mike Merlo [Abadinsky 1994] leader of the Unione Siciliana during the 1920's. The elder Merlo's influnce over Organized Crime was so powerful that upon his death in 1924, a war between north side gangs and Johnny Torrio with underling Al Capone at his side, instantly erupted. The war lasted 4 bloody years and included the St. Valentines Day Massacre. [Abadinsky 1994] .

After his retirement from the city council, he continued to serve as Democratic committeeman from the 44th Ward ultimately handing over the title to Tom Tunney. John Merlo held the position from 1969-92.

Hansen made an attempt to be a Democratic Congressional Candidate for Illinois' 5th District in 2002, but when the Democratic National Committee backed Clinton Administration phenom Rahm Emanuel in the race, Hansen withdrew and soon after resigned from the 44th Ward Aldermanic seat. He is married to Annette and has two sons, Paul and David. He has two grandchildren. He has residences in both Chicago and Arizona. He is a longtime Cubs fan (is friends with former players such as Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ryne Sandberg) and avid golfer.

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041126090107/http://www.glfc.org/aboutus/brief.asp#BernardHansen His biography from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission]