Leslie Hairston
Encyclopedia
Leslie Hairston is alderman
of the 5th ward of the City of Chicago
; she was elected in 1999. She was re-elected in 2003 & 2011.
Hairston worked in Springfield as an Assistant Attorney General
. She also handled litigation for the office of the Illinois Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, where she argued before the Illinois Supreme Court.
She is a member of the South Shore Cultural Center Advisory Council, the Jackson Park Advisory Council, and the O’Keeffe Area Council. She was a member of the McFarland Mental Health Center with the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Development Disabilities and a former beat facilitator for CAPS. Hairston is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority.
Delmarie Cobb, who was paid thousands from Hairston's campaign fund for political consulting, also received nearly $28,000 from a taxpayer-funded payroll account, available to aldermen with no scrutiny, between January 2008 and July 2009 to prepare newsletters, news releases and publicize ward meetings for the 5th Ward alderman.
Hairston was one of only five Chicago aldermen to oppose the privatization of Chicago parking meters.
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 5th ward 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...
; she was elected in 1999. She was re-elected in 2003 & 2011.
Early life
Hairston is a Chicago native; she grew up in the Hyde Park and South Shore neighborhoods. She earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her law degree from Loyola University School of Law. Before becoming alderman, Hairston was in a private law practice.Public service
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. She also handled litigation for the office of the Illinois Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, where she argued before the Illinois Supreme Court.
She is a member of the South Shore Cultural Center Advisory Council, the Jackson Park Advisory Council, and the O’Keeffe Area Council. She was a member of the McFarland Mental Health Center with the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Development Disabilities and a former beat facilitator for CAPS. Hairston is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority.
Aldermanic career
Hairston was elected in 1999, when she defeated an incumbent in her first race. She sits on five committees: Buildings; Rules and Ethics; Human Relations; Parks and Recreation; and Special Events and Cultural Affairs.Delmarie Cobb, who was paid thousands from Hairston's campaign fund for political consulting, also received nearly $28,000 from a taxpayer-funded payroll account, available to aldermen with no scrutiny, between January 2008 and July 2009 to prepare newsletters, news releases and publicize ward meetings for the 5th Ward alderman.
Hairston was one of only five Chicago aldermen to oppose the privatization of Chicago parking meters.