John Rice (alderman)
Encyclopedia
John Rice was alderman
of the City of Chicago
representing the 36th ward
on the City's far northwest side from 2009 to 2011.
Service for 12 years.
' (36th) political action committees.
Highway Department from 1991 to 1997. Rice has worked for the City of Chicago
since October 1, 1997. Rice worked as a city zoning
inspector from 1997 to 2005. Rice was a long-time employee of the Chicago City Council
with a title of "Assistant to the Alderman," working as a driver to Banks.
to appoint Rice as his replacement.
medallion and an FOP membership sticker on his car, a 2009 Lincoln MKS
, even though he is not a police officer. State law restricts the use of insignia such as the FOP medallion to members of the group, which is limited to full-time, sworn officers.
restaurant. Rice sent out invitations instructing those purchasing tickets to "make checks payable to William J. P. Banks (Memo -- Retirement Party)" and mail the checks to Rice's house. Days after a report in the Chicago Tribune
, the party was cancelled.
The appointment of Rice drew criticism from some in the local media.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the City of 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...
representing the 36th ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
on the City's far northwest side from 2009 to 2011.
Early career
Rice worked as general manager of Red Top Parking for more than 20 years and owned Red Top ValetValet
Valet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
Service for 12 years.
Political career
Rice is a member of the 36th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, one of Alderman William BanksWilliam Banks
William Joseph Panebianco Banks was alderman of the 36th ward in Chicago from 1983 to 2009.- Early career :Banks is Italian-American; to avoid anti-Italian bigotry, Banks' father, currency exchange owner Vincenzo Giuseppe Panebianco, anglicized his name to James Joseph and added "Banks" to their...
' (36th) political action committees.
Career in Government
Rice worked for the Cook CountyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
Highway Department from 1991 to 1997. Rice has worked for the City of 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...
since October 1, 1997. Rice worked as a city zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
inspector from 1997 to 2005. Rice was a long-time employee of 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...
with a title of "Assistant to the Alderman," working as a driver to Banks.
Appointment to City Council
In late April, 2009, Banks announced his intention to retire from City Council. Banks asked Mayor Richard M. DaleyRichard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
to appoint Rice as his replacement.
Fraternal Order of Police medallion on car
While Rice was under consideration by Daley for appointment as alderman, Rice displayed a Fraternal Order of PoliceFraternal Order of Police
The Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 local chapters , organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge...
medallion and an FOP membership sticker on his car, a 2009 Lincoln MKS
Lincoln MKS
The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. The MKS first appeared in concept form at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006 with the production version, a 2009 model, appearing later at the Los Angeles International Auto...
, even though he is not a police officer. State law restricts the use of insignia such as the FOP medallion to members of the group, which is limited to full-time, sworn officers.
Rice organizes retirement party for Banks
Also while Rice was under consideration by Daley for appointment as alderman, Rice organized a $200-a-ticket retirement party for Banks at a RosemontRosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
restaurant. Rice sent out invitations instructing those purchasing tickets to "make checks payable to William J. P. Banks (Memo -- Retirement Party)" and mail the checks to Rice's house. Days after a report in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, the party was cancelled.
Appointment, confirmation, and swearing-in
Daley announced the appointment of Rice, then 41, as the new 36th Ward alderman on Tuesday, October 6, 2009. The City Council unanimously approved the appointment the next day, Wednesday, October 7, 2009, and Daley swore in Rice. Rice took the oath of office but was forced to do it twice, after raising his left hand the first time rather than his right for the swearing-in.The appointment of Rice drew criticism from some in the local media.
External links
- 36th Ward Alderman: John Rice, ward map and contact information