James Cappleman
Encyclopedia
James Cappleman is an American licensed clinical social worker and politician. On April 5, 2011, Cappleman was elected to the Chicago City Council
, representing the 46th Ward. He took office on May 16, 2011.
and the son of a United States Army
physician and nurse, Cappleman and his twin brother are the fifth and sixth of eight children. After graduating from the University of Houston
, he began his career as a teacher, with most of his students being undocumented immigrants from Mexico. He moved to Chicago in 1986 and has lived in the 46th Ward since 1999. He graduated from the Jane Addams College of Social Work
at the University of Illinois at Chicago
with a Masters in Social Work in 1991. He served two terms as Board President of the Uptown Chicago Commission, leaving the organization in 2010 to run for public office.
and was narrowly defeated, polling 47% in the runoff to her 53%. He ran again for the seat in 2011 when Shiller announced that she would not seek a seventh term. In the primary election, Cappleman faced off against nine other candidates, finishing first but failing to win an absolute majority. He therefore faced a runoff against second-place finisher Molly Phelan. In the runoff, held on April 5, Cappleman received 55% of the vote to Phelan's 45%.
gay
. His partner, Richard Thale, is chair of the 23rd Police District's Court Advocacy Committee and a CAPS facilitator for Beat 2312. The two intend to enter into a civil union later in 2011. Cappleman is one of two openly gay Chicago aldermen, alongside Tom Tunney.
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...
, representing the 46th Ward. He took office on May 16, 2011.
Early life and career
A native of Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and the son of a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
physician and nurse, Cappleman and his twin brother are the fifth and sixth of eight children. After graduating from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, he began his career as a teacher, with most of his students being undocumented immigrants from Mexico. He moved to Chicago in 1986 and has lived in the 46th Ward since 1999. He graduated from the Jane Addams College of Social Work
Jane Addams College of Social Work
The Jane Addams College of Social Work is a division of the University of Illinois at Chicago and is located at 1040 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7134.-Mission statement:...
at the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
with a Masters in Social Work in 1991. He served two terms as Board President of the Uptown Chicago Commission, leaving the organization in 2010 to run for public office.
Political career
He previously ran for alderman of the 46th ward in 2007 against six-term incumbent Helen ShillerHelen Shiller
Helen Shiller is a former member of the Chicago City Council, where she represented the 46th ward from 1987 to 2011.- Early life :Shiller was born in 1947 and raised on Long Island in New York. Shiller she grew up in a middle-class family. Shiller's parents were home owners. Shiller's father,...
and was narrowly defeated, polling 47% in the runoff to her 53%. He ran again for the seat in 2011 when Shiller announced that she would not seek a seventh term. In the primary election, Cappleman faced off against nine other candidates, finishing first but failing to win an absolute majority. He therefore faced a runoff against second-place finisher Molly Phelan. In the runoff, held on April 5, Cappleman received 55% of the vote to Phelan's 45%.
Personal
Cappleman is openlyComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. His partner, Richard Thale, is chair of the 23rd Police District's Court Advocacy Committee and a CAPS facilitator for Beat 2312. The two intend to enter into a civil union later in 2011. Cappleman is one of two openly gay Chicago aldermen, alongside Tom Tunney.