Bill Lipinski
Encyclopedia
William Oliver Lipinski American
politician, was a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1983 to 2005, representing a district in Chicago
.
He was born in Chicago, and was educated at Loras College
in Dubuque, Iowa
. Lipinski served in the United States Army Reserve
, and he was a public administrator with the Chicago Park District
of the city of Chicago. In 1975, Mayor
Richard J. Daley
named him as the Democratic committeeman for Chicago's 23rd Ward, in the southwestern portion of the city—a post he still holds. In the same year, Lipinski was elected to the Chicago City Council
as the alderman for the 23rd Ward, serving until his election to Congress from which included most of southwestern Chicago. He was reelected four times from this district with almost no difficulty.
After the 1990 census, his district was merged with the 3rd district
, represented by a longtime friend, Marty Russo
. Lipinski defeated Russo in the 1992 Democratic primary, all but assuring a sixth term. He was reelected five more times from this district, facing serious opposition only once, in 1994.
While in the House, Lipinski served on the Transportation Committee
; his district included Midway Airport
and also had more railroad crossings than any other district.
Like many Daley Democrats
, Lipinski was somewhat conservative by national Democratic standards. He strongly supported the right to life, and described himself as a staunch conservative on foreign policy. He was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition consisting of moderate and conservative congressional Democrats.
Lipinski endorsed Bill Bradley
for the Democratic
presidential nomination
in 2000
.
During the 2004 election cycle, Lipinski initially placed his name on the ballot and easily won the primary election
. On August 13, 2004, however, Lipinski withdrew his name from the November 2 general election
ballot, announcing that he would retire at the end of his current term, which expired on January 3, 2005. At Lipinski's urging, Democratic party leaders named his son, Dan Lipinski
, a University of Tennessee
professor, to replace him on the ballot. Dan Lipinski then won the general election against token Republican opposition in the relatively Democratic district.
Lipinski has since become a lobbyist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1983 to 2005, representing a district in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
He was born in Chicago, and was educated at Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. Lipinski served in the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, and he was a public administrator with the Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
of the city of Chicago. In 1975, Mayor
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
named him as the Democratic committeeman for Chicago's 23rd Ward, in the southwestern portion of the city—a post he still holds. In the same year, Lipinski was elected to the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
as the alderman for the 23rd Ward, serving until his election to Congress from which included most of southwestern Chicago. He was reelected four times from this district with almost no difficulty.
After the 1990 census, his district was merged with the 3rd district
Illinois' 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Dan Lipinski since January 2005. The district was previously represented by his father Bill Lipinski beginning in 1993....
, represented by a longtime friend, Marty Russo
Marty Russo
Martin Anthony Russo is a U.S. Democratic politician and lobbyist.- Political career :He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Illinois and served from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1993.From 1979 to 1992, Russo served on the Ways and Means Committee...
. Lipinski defeated Russo in the 1992 Democratic primary, all but assuring a sixth term. He was reelected five more times from this district, facing serious opposition only once, in 1994.
While in the House, Lipinski served on the Transportation Committee
United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
; his district included Midway Airport
Midway Airport
Chicago Midway International Airport , also known simply as Midway Airport or Midway, is an airport in Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's southwest side, eight miles from Chicago's Loop...
and also had more railroad crossings than any other district.
Like many Daley Democrats
Cook County Democratic Organization
The Cook County Democratic Organization is one of the most powerful political machines in American history. Historically called the "Chicago Democratic machine", or simply the "Chicago Machine", the organization has dominated Chicago politics since the 1930s...
, Lipinski was somewhat conservative by national Democratic standards. He strongly supported the right to life, and described himself as a staunch conservative on foreign policy. He was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition consisting of moderate and conservative congressional Democrats.
Lipinski endorsed Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
for the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
presidential nomination
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000
The 2000 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2000 U.S. presidential election...
in 2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
.
During the 2004 election cycle, Lipinski initially placed his name on the ballot and easily won the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. On August 13, 2004, however, Lipinski withdrew his name from the November 2 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
ballot, announcing that he would retire at the end of his current term, which expired on January 3, 2005. At Lipinski's urging, Democratic party leaders named his son, Dan Lipinski
Dan Lipinski
Daniel William Lipinski is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes much of the southwest side of Chicago, along with such suburbs as Oak Lawn and Brookfield....
, a University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
professor, to replace him on the ballot. Dan Lipinski then won the general election against token Republican opposition in the relatively Democratic district.
Lipinski has since become a lobbyist.