Richard Phelan (politician)

Richard Phelan
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
In office
December 1990 – December 1994
Preceded byGeorge Dunne
Succeeded byJohn H. Stroger
Personal details
Born(1937-03-29)March 29, 1937
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 26, 2024(2024-03-26) (aged 86)
Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic

Richard John Phelan (March 29, 1937 – March 26, 2024) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. He was special counsel to the House Ethics Committee investigating Speaker Jim Wright in the late 1980s.[1] Phelan was then elected as Cook County Board President from 1990 to 1994.[2] His campaign was Chicago's and Illinois' top 1990 election in terms of coverage and importance, as Phelan brought a reform agenda, beating out the candidates of the Regular Cook County Democratic Party. His campaign included campaign manager Eric Adelstein, media consultant David Axelrod,[3] field director Pete Giangreco, Rahm Emanuel, who did opposition research, issues director Don Wiener, fundraiser Mary Beth Sova, and field assistant Troy Deckert.

Phelan was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994.[4]

Phelan died from cancer at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois, on March 26, 2024, at the age of 86.[5]

  1. ^ "Jim Wright Is A Mirror Phelan Should Look Into - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  2. ^ Fran Speilman. "Change of venue for Richard Phelan's sign". Chicago Sun-Times. November 19, 2010. Retrieved on December 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Hardy, Thomas (27 June 1990). "MAN ON A MISSION". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  4. ^ https://abc30.com/archive/9016149/ [dead link]
  5. ^ Struett, David (30 March 2024). "Richard Phelan, former Cook County Board president who restored abortion services, dies at 86". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 30 March 2024.