Tag: Alderman
The political past of Ald. Ed Burke and his place in Chicago history
CHICAGO — Edward M. Burke is the longest standing alderman in Chicago history, arguably the most powerful, too.
He served as a Chicago police officer from 1965-1968, working the infamous 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention.
He later became a lawyer and Chicago alderman, taking over his father Edward P. Burke's 14th Ward seat in 1969.
Edward M. Burke’s political career has taken many twists and turns over years.
Yet none of it amounting to a crime.
Burke has hired former "Operation Greylord" prosecutors to take on his case: Anton Valukas and Charles Sklarsky, both of silk stocking law firm Jenner & Block.
While Burke is widely known for his numerous bans on things like carriage rides in the city, plastic grocery story bags and bath salts with hallucinogenic effects among other things, Burke is perhaps most noted for his role in the council wars dating back to the early 1980s.
The "two Eddies" — Ald.
Burke and Ald.
Today, the man dubbed the most powerful alderman on Chicago’s City Council is preparing for the fight of his life as the federal government brings down the hammer, again, on city politics.