Toni Preckwinkle

Infobox_Politician
name = Toni Preckwinkle

---

width =
height =
birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|3|17|mf=y
city-state|St. Paul|Minnesota
residence = city-state|Chicago|Illinois
USA
office = City of Chicago Alderman
term_start = 1991
term_end = Present
predecessor = Timothy C. Evans
successor = Incumbent
constituency = 4th ward
party = Democrat
alma_mater = University of Chicago
religion =
spouse = Zeus Preckwinkle
children = two
website = [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Ward4&entityNameEnumValue=49 City of Chicago 4th ward]

Toni Reed Preckwinkle (born March 17, 1947) is an alderman in the Chicago City Council representing Chicago's 4th ward in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Preckwinkle first sought office in 1983, but was defeated twice before securing election in 1991 and subsequently being re-elected four times. In addition to her elected role on the city council, Preckwinkle serves as the Democratic Committeeman of the 4th Ward of the city on the Cook County Central Committee. As 4th ward alderman, she has neighborhood, municipal and regional functions, and has an additional role in the development of the prospective Olympic Village and Olympic Stadium, which are planned in and around her ward as part of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid.

She is a critic of current Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and ally of United States Senator and 4th ward resident Barack Obama. She is an outspoken Chicago politician, whose actions and opinions are often noted in respected publications across the country such as the "New York Times" and "Washington Post", and who has a reputation for being a progressive leader and for being publicly accountable. In her first four terms in office she emerged as the council's prominent defender of affordable housing. Among other issues she is known for her cost benefit analysis of the city's Olympic bid and for her sponsorship of living wage ordinances. She also has an interest in police brutality and excessive force.

Early life

Preckwinkle was born in city-state|St. Paul|Minnesota, moving to Chicago to study at the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park community area, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees. After college, Preckwinkle spent ten years teaching history in several high schools in the Chicago metropolitan area, including Calumet High School, the Visitation School, and Aquinas. She is married to Zeus Preckwinkle, a teacher at Ancona School. They have two children. Her husband is Caucasian, which at times has been a campaign issue. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7E21318ADC653&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=VOTES GIVE CHA SLUMS A REASON FOR LIFE|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1988-08-30|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=McCarron, John]

Political career

City alderman

Chicago's fourth ward is adjacent to the Lake Michigan lakefront, and includes all of the Kenwood and Oakland community areas, the northern portion of Hyde Park and the eastern portions of the Washington Park, Grand Boulevard and Douglas community areas on the South Side of Chicago. In 1991, the northern part of the ward was an example of urban blight, while the southern half (Hyde Park and Kenwood) was middle and upper middle-class.cite web|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1991/ii910538.html|title=A tale of two wards,or diversity in one city|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=May 1991|publisher=Illinois Periodicals Online|work=Illinois Issues|author=Green, Paul M.]

In her first two aldermanic election attempts for the 4th ward, in 1983 and 1987, Preckwinkle lost to Timothy C. Evans,cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D380075792D&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=200 may run in black ward|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1986-12-08|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Williams, Lillian and Jim Merriner] Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's City Council floor leader and lieutenant. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D4B6B1B535E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=`Comic crusaders' out to topple Ald. Evans|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-01-20|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author= Talbott, Basil, Jr.] Chicago Aldermen are elected without regard to political party affiliation, but must earn a majority of votes or the top two candidates have a runoff election. In 1983, she gained enough support to force a runoff election. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7DB31DEF2EEEB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Evans Got Funds From Vrdolyak|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1988-01-22|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Dold, R. Bruce] In 1987, although both the "Chicago Tribune" and "Chicago Sun-Times" endorsed Evans, they praised Preckwinkle for her numerous qualities, including intelligence and independence, and expressed hopes she would continue in politics. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D5185AFD665&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Our aldermanic choices on S. Side|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-02-13|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times] Evans had previously been aligned with former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne, but Preckwinkle was endorsed by United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun, and also by the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D4C146919F4&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Evans, Langford battle a multitude of South Side foes|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-01-23|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Merriner, Jim] However, in the 1987 elections, Evans defeated her by a 77% to 21% margin. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF682498501E0FD&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Results of Election for Alderman|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-02-26|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune]

In 1991 Preckwinkle and four others challenged Evans for the 4th ward alderman's position. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB37333E757F540&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=Evans facing tough opponents in 4th Ward race|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1991-02-07|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Hayner, Don] In the first round of voting on February 26, 1991, she won nearly one-third popular vote in the ward by winning 20 of 58 precincts (all in the Hyde Park-Kenwood community). Evans and Preckwinkle again advanced to a runoff election, as they had in 1983, but this time the majority of the eliminated candidates endorsed Preckwinkle. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FFEFF4E7592969B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |title=News|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1991-03-05|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=O'Malley, Kathy and Dorothy Collin] On April 2, 1991, Preckwinkle performed better in the northern part of the ward and was elected by a 109 vote margin, defeating the 19-year incumbent alderman Evans, originally an appointee of former Mayor Richard J. Daley.Citation|last=Joravsky|first=Ben|last2=Dumke|first2=Mick|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/citycouncil/preckwinkle/|title=Toni Preckwinkle, 4th Ward (Your Chicago City Council: Our guide to all 50 aldermen)|newspaper=Chicago Reader|accessdate=2007-10-10|] On February 27, 2007, she was elected to her fifth four-year term. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1179AF415B459528&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=ALDERMANIC RACES|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=2007-03-01|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune] cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11940986D4D45620&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Meet Chicago's City Council|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=2007-05-20|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune] As alderman she is apportioned the same $1.2 million discretionary fund from the City as all other aldermen, and has developed a reputation for accountability and progressiveness. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=118D292F6A0CE868&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-11|date=2007-04-29|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|title=Preckwinkle speaks, others hide|author=Marin, Carol] [cite web|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2007/10/03/change-still-gonna-come/|accessdate=2007-10-13|date=2007-10-03|author=Dumke, Mick|title=A change is still gonna come|publisher=Chicago Reader Inc.|work=Clout City]

Preckwinkle is also the Democratic Committeeman for the 4th Ward,cite web|url=http://aldertrack.blogspot.com |title=Chicago's 2007 Aldermanic Race Info Center |date=2006-11-01 |accessdate=2007-10-14 |author=Tocqueviller] a position within the Cook County Democratic Party.cite web|url=http://chicagoist.com/2007/02/26/ask_chicagoist_whats_a_ward_committeeman.php |title=What's a Ward Committeeman? |date=2007-02-26 |accessdate=2007-10-14 |author=Thales Exoo] Each of the 50 wards of the city and the 30 townships of Cook County elect a Democratic Committeeman to the Cook County Central Committee. These committeemen form the official governing body of the Cook County Democratic Party which, among other purposes, endeavors to attract, endorse, and support qualified Democratic candidates for office.cite web|url=http://dig.lib.niu.edu/blackchicago/washington1.html |title=The Chicago Democratic Political Machine (Part 1) |accessdate=2007-10-14 |author=e-Black Chicago |publisher=Northern Illinois University Libraries Digitization Unit] [cite web|url=http://www.cookcountydems.com/Bylaws.pdf|accessdate=2007-10-15|publisher=Cook County Democratic Party|title=BY-LAWS OF THE COOK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY] She was among those who encouraged Barack Obama to make his first run for the United States Congress in 2000, [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1192039444-V8MJ4iiKvmGy1yjFGsZFDA|title=In 2000, a Streetwise Veteran Schooled a Bold Young Obama|accessdate=2007-10-10|date=2007-09-07|publisher=The New York Times Company|author=Scott, Janny] and she was an early supporter when he ran in 2004. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FBEA3AC73283D54&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-11|date=2003-06-25|title=Rush Senate endorsement puts payback before prudence|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Neal, Steve] When Obama later became a United States Senator, Preckwinkle had a large say in his Illinois State Senate replacement. [cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050915143208/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/chi-0411060243nov06,0,7097896.story|publisher=Chicago Tribune|work=orlandosentinel.com|title=8 vie for Obama's legislature spot|author=Chase, John|accessdate=2007-10-11|date=2004-10-06]

Along with aldermen Sandi Jackson, Joe Moore and Ricardo Munoz, Preckwinkle is one of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's fiercest critics on the current City Council.cite web|url=http://www.russstewart.com/3-7-07.htm|publisher=Russ Stewart, Attorney at Law|title=DALEY'S NEW PROBLEM: "LAME DUCK" STATUS|author=Stewart, Russ|accessdate=2007-10-11|date=2007-03-11] In 2004, she and Dorothy Tillman were the only aldermen to vote against the Mayor's city budget, and in 2005, Preckwinkle was the lone dissenter. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/pdf/060421/0421_works.pdf|title=Make No Small Plans|publisher=Chicago Reader|author=Joravsky, Ben|date=2006-04-21|accessdate=2007-10-12]

Political issues

If the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid is successful, Preckwinkle will have a role in its implementation. Her ward will include the main site of the $1.1 billion residential complex, which will accommodate athletes in an Olympic Village. The complex will be redeveloped from a truck parking lot, mostly in the Douglas and Near South Side community areas immediately south of McCormick Place and across Lake Shore Drive from Burnham Park and Lake Michigan. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/gallery.pl/Standard?date=2007-01-23&gallery
title=Chicago2007-04-14|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|work=Crain's ChicagoBusiness] This accommodation will become rental and condominium units, regardless of whether the Olympic bid is successful. Preckwinkle has already expressed her reservations about the current plan, and will be involved in plan revisions. [cite web|url=http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24588&pageNo=3|accessdate=2007-10-10|date=2007-04-14|title=USOC picks Chicago for 2016 Olympic bid|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|work=ChicagoBusiness|author=Hinz, Greg] [cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/olympics/366343,CST-NWS-oly02.stng|title= 2016: How does Ald. Toni Preckwinkle want the Olympic Village to look?|author=Spielman, Fran|publisher=Sun-Times News Group|date=2007-05-02|accessdate=2007-10-12] Washington Park, the proposed site of the Olympic Stadium, is partially located in the 4th Ward, although the stadium itself will be situated a few dozen meters outside the ward boundary, in the 20th ward. Since the Olympic developments will particularly impact on the part of the park within her ward, her opinion on the stadium plans will be relevant. She has already expressed her reservations about the impact of the plan on public park usage. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=22158&seenIt=1|accessdate=2007-10-10|date=2006-09-20|title=Daley sets site for Olympic stadium|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|work=ChicagoBusiness|author=Hinz, Greg]

On the City Council Preckwinkle has become known as a progressive member, independent of current Mayor Richard M. Daley, with whom she dissented more often than any other alderman. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0702120003feb12,1,7706621.story?coll=chi-politics-stories|accessdate=2007-10-12|date=2007-02-12|title=Tribune Endorsements for the Chicago City Council (Wards 2 - 10)|publisher=Chicago Tribune] [cite web|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2006/12/29/anatomy-rubber-stamp/|title=Anatomy of a rubber stamp|accessdate=2007-10-12|date=2006-12-29|author=Dumke, Mick|publisher=Chicago Reader Inc.] She has championed set-asides for affordable housing as her signature issue, and the municipal ordinances she sponsored in 1993 and 1999 for affordable housing increased city expenditures on low and moderate income housing by 50 percent. In 2007, she pushed for increases in the existing Affordable Requirements Ordinance. This mandates housing developers using land bought at a discount from the city to make at least 10 percent of their housing units "affordable", or to contribute money to an affordable-housing fund by increasing the percentage to 15 percent.cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/ourtown/070511/councilfollies/|accessdate=2007-10-13|publisher=Chicago Reader Inc.|date=2007-05-11|title=Making Hay|author=Dumke, Mick] The issue is considered a key element in the debate about ending homelessness in Chicago. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1625097-4,00.html|title=Can Chicago End Homelessness? (page 4)|accessdate=2008-03-21|date=2007-05-24|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine|author=Ferkenhoff, Eric and Matt Bigelow] Her detailed knowledge of public housing has been recognised in the national press, which has cited her defense of the maligned Vince Lane when the federal government took over Chicago's public housing projects. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE0DD1131F93BA15756C0A963958260|title= A Star in Public Housing Runs Out of Fuel, for Now|accessdate=2007-10-12|date=1995-05-28|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times|author=Terry, Don] [cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/118455/page/3|title=A Housing Program That Actually Works (page 3)|accessdate=2008-03-21|date=1992-06-22|publisher=Newsweek Magazine|author=Mccormick, John]

In both 1998 and 2002 Preckwinkle successfully sponsored living wage ordinances.cite web|url=http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0024396621.1215785395@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadeeikjkifdcefecelldffhdfho.0&contentOID=536894819&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Ward&entityName=Ward4&deptMainCategoryOID=-536883680&blockName=Ward4/Content&context=dept|title=Toni Preckwinkle's Biography|accessdate=2008-07-11|publisher=City of Chicago] A 2006 living wage ordinance made Chicago the largest United States city that required big-box retailers to pay a "living wage." This ordinance requires companies with more than $1 billion in annual sales and stores of at least ft2 to m2|90000 to pay wages of at least $10 an hour plus $3 in fringe benefits by mid-2010. The minimum wage in Illinois at the time of the ordinance's passage was $6.50 an hour, the federal minimum being $5.15. Other U.S. cities with living wage laws include Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico; San Francisco, California; and Washington D.C. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/27/AR2006072700197.html|title=Chicago Council Passes 'Living Wage' Act|author=Bellandi, Deanna|accessdate=2007-10-12|date=2006-07-27|publisher=The Washington Post Company|work=The Washington Post]

In October 2007 it was reported that Preckwinkle had strongly opposed naming a landmark in the 4th ward for 1976 Nobel literature laureate Saul Bellow, on the grounds that Bellow had made remarks that Preckwinkle considered racist.Citation|last=Ahmed|first=Azam|last2=Grossman|first2=Ron| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/chi-bellow05oct05,0,5351307.story|title=Bellow's remarks on race haunt legacy in Hyde Park|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2007-10-20|date=2007-10-05] [cite web|url=http://maroon.uchicago.edu/online_edition/news/2007/10/12/alderman-denies-bellow-recognition/|title=Alderman denies Bellow recognition|accessdate=2007-10-20|date=2007-10-12|author=Hokama, Rhema|publisher=Chicago Maroon] She also opposed the renaming of a stretch of street near the original Playboy Club "Hugh Hefner Way".cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FAED4E86732A44C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-11 |publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times |author=Fornek, Scott|title=The Chicago City Council|date=2003-05-06] Preckwinkle has been outspoken in support of the city settling the Jon Burge torture case, rather than continuing to spend money in the litigation process. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Cityroom_Print.aspx?storyID=13555|publisher=WBEZ 91.5 FM|work=chicagopublicradio.org|title=Chicago Alderman: Settle Police Torture Cases|accessdate=2007-10-11|date=2007-09-25]

Another local controversy was Preckwinkle's 2006 decision to whitewash artistic and memorial murals at the 47th Street Metra underpass. Preckwinkle subsequently apologized to offended local graffiti artists, who had worked with permission from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to create the murals. These murals represented themes that included Latin-American, African, Mayan, Indian, and Native American spiritual practices. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/antisocial/060929/|accessdate=2007-10-11|date=2006-09-26|title=Whitewashed|publisher=Chicago Reader Inc.|author=Armstrong, Liz] A year later, controversy still surrounded the re-creation of murals on the underpass. [cite web|url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkcc/lilac/lakeparkviaduct/metwalllandsc.htm#new47RFP|publisher=Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference|title=July 11 2007 Herald report- Residents want muralists to brighten area (47th viaduct) with paintings.|author=|date=2007|accessdate=2007-10-11]

In 2007, Preckwinkle pursued disclosure of Chicago Police Department officers who used excessive force. The United States District Court had ruled that the records be unsealed and made available to the public. However, on July 13, 2007 the city, through its corporation counsel, filed an emergency motion to stay the judge's order. When the city argued in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to against disclosure, it made the point that aldermen would have access to the information. Preckwinkle's August 23, 2007 request for disclosure was denied. [cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/chi-list_03oct03,1,3171315.story|title=City withholds list of accused police|accessdate=2008-07-14|date=2007-10-03|publisher=Chicago Tribune|author=Heinzmann, David and Gary Washburn] Preckwinkle has also been proactive in the effort to pursue compensation for victims of police brutality in the Jon Burge cases and sought hearings on the initial special prosecutor's report. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=119564783847C2B8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-16 |publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune |author=Mihalopoulos, Dan|title=New council plans inquiry into police-torture report|date=2007-05-24] She has been a critic of the decades-long delay in settling the case. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11D6A1A8374A2108&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-16 |publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune |author=Washburn, Gary and Jeff Coen|title=City to settle Burge case - 4 alleged victims to get share of up to $19.8 million under tentative plan |date=2007-12-08] [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11D79E150DC61B98&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|accessdate=2008-07-16 |publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune |author=Ciokajlo, Mickey and Gary Washburn|title=Cop abuse deal on Burge is near - Daley dismisses Sharpton's threat on Olympic bid |date=2007-12-11]

Other activities

In 1985 & 1986 Preckwinkle was President of the Disabled Adult Residential Enterprises (DARE). Preckwinkle has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Political Action Director of the Near South Chapter of the Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI-IPO). During and after her 1987 aldermanic election campaign, she worked as a planner for the Chicago Department of Economic Development.cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF68179B43B1750&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Choices for Alderman|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-02-09|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune] [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF682287465513E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=3 Strive to Extend South Side Legacy|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1987-02-23|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Devall, Cheryl] By 1990, she had become executive director of the Chicago Jobs Council, and become allied with civil rights attorney R. Eugene Pincham. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF82E1659A6EC4F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=JOBS FOR MINORITIES, WOMEN VOWED FOR `MCDOME` PROJECT|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1990-07-31|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mount, Charles] [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF82958B4FD7DE8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title= APATHY CASTS SHADOW ON PRIMARY - CANDIDATES FAILING TO IGNITE INTEREST|accessdate=2008-06-09|date=1990-03-18|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Dold, R. Bruce and John Kass]

Notes

External links

* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/4th.pdf 4th Ward Map]
* [http://www.citizensforpreckwinkle.org/bio.htm Preckwinkle's Biography]
* [http://www.dgapchicago.org/aldermen/preckwinckle Developing Government Accountability Report Card]