Edward M. Burke

Ed Burke
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 14th ward
In office
March 14, 1969 – May 15, 2023
Preceded byJoseph Burke
Succeeded byJeylú Gutiérrez
Personal details
Born
Edward Michael Burke

(1943-12-29) December 29, 1943 (age 80)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1968)​
Children5
RelativesDaniel J. Burke (brother)
EducationDePaul University (BA, JD)

Edward Michael Burke (born December 29, 1943) is an American politician found guilty of racketeering, bribery, and extortion[1] who served as the alderman of Chicago's 14th ward from 1969 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the Chicago City Council in 1969, and represented part of the city's Southwest Side. Chair of Council's Committee on Finance, Burke had been called Chicago's "most powerful alderman" by the Chicago Sun-Times.[2] Burke was named one of the "100 Most Powerful Chicagoans" by Chicago Magazine, describing him as "[o]ne of the last of the old-school Chicago Machine pols."[3]

Burke is the longest-serving alderman in Chicago history.[4] Despite gaining prominence in Chicago politics, Burke was known to clash with the "old guard" of Mayor Richard J. Daley and often aligned with fellow Councilman Ed Vrdolyak.[5] Along with Vrdolyak, he was a leader of the "Vrdolyak 29" during the first term of Mayor Harold Washington, the "Council Wars" era. Burke and his staff were the subjects of federal and local investigations, and members of his staff were the targets of indictments and convictions involving payroll and contracting irregularities.[6] Burke opted not to run in the 2023 election, ending a record 14-term tenure on the City Council.[7]

Burke was the lead partner with Klafter & Burke, a law firm that specializes in property tax appeals; the firm has served clients who do business with the city and also provided services to former U.S. president Donald Trump.[8] As of August 2019, Burke is no longer a partner with the law firm.[9]

On November 29, 2018, Burke's office at Chicago City Hall and his Aldermanic ward office were seized by federal agents, who ejected staff and papered over the doors and windows.[8] On January 3, 2019, Burke was charged with attempted extortion for allegedly using his political office to drive business for his law firm.[10] On December 21, 2023, Burke was found guilty by a federal jury on 13 of 14 counts of racketeering, bribery, and extortion.[1] [11] On June 24, 2024, Burke was sentenced to two years in prison and a $2 million fine. [12]

Burke's wife is former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. He and his wife were foster parents and were party to a protracted, highly publicized, racially charged child custody dispute.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wttw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Novak, Tim (May 25, 2009). "Burke gets zoning break, special parking; Powerful alderman gets zoning break, special parking". Chicago Sun-Times.
  3. ^ "100 Most Powerful Chicagoans". Chicago Magazine. March 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "45 years in, Ald. Burke is longest serving city council member: Sneed". Chicago Sun-Times. November 3, 2014. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Cherone, Heather (April 19, 2023). "End of the Burke Era: A 54-year Political Reign at City Hall Comes to a Close". WTTW. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "In Chicago, Daley Pushes for Tougher Ethics Rules". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Associated Press. October 28, 1997.
  7. ^ Spielman, Fran (November 28, 2022). "End of an era in Chicago politics as Burke chooses retirement over uphill battle for a record 15th term". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Spielman, Fran (November 29, 2018). "Federal agents show up at Ald. Ed Burke's City Hall office, paper over windows". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  9. ^ Issa, Nader (August 23, 2019). "Ald. Ed Burke no longer partner at tax appeals law firm at center of indictment". suntimes.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 28, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Meisner, Jason (January 3, 2019). "Feds charge powerful Ald. Edward Burke with corruption". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference verdictsandstencing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke sentenced in federal corruption case". nbcchicago.com. June 24, 2024.