Michael Bakalis
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Bakalis is an American
academic and politician. He was the Democratic
nominee for Governor
of Illinois
in 1978, losing to incumbent Republican
governor James R. Thompson
.
Bakalis received his bachelor's
, master's
, and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University
in 1959, 1962, and 1966, respectively. His academic career includes service as assistant dean at Northern Illinois University
, dean of the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago
, and as the President of Triton College
. He has also been a member of the faculty at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University since 1994, where he teaches public and non-profit management, policy, and strategy.
In government and politics, Bakalis served as the Illinois State Superintendent of Education from 1971 to 1975 and as Illinois Comptroller from 1977 to 1979. Having built a reputation as a staunch advocate of education, in 1978, he won the Democratic nomination for governor. During the election, Bakalis was critical of Governor Thompson's education and tax policies, and aggressively courted voters. However, because Thompson was serving an unusual two-year term as governor—and had thus been in office only nine months when Bakalis began his campaign, Bakalis had difficulty challenging the incumbent's record; he lost the election by a margin of 60 to 40. At the time, it was the largest defeat for an Illinois Democrat seeking the office since 1928.
After his unsuccessful bid for governorship, Bakalis served as a Deputy Undersecretary in the United States Department of Education
of the Jimmy Carter
administration from 1980 to 1982, where he administered ten regional offices. In 1988, he managed the Illinois campaign of Michael Dukakis
' bid for the Presidency of the United States
. In 2002, Bakalis made another run for governor, but had to drop out before the Democratic primary
because of a lack of money.
Bakalis is also the founder, President and CEO
of American Quality Schools, an education management organization that operates charter school
s in the Midwestern United States
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic and politician. He was 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...
nominee for Governor
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1978, losing to incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
governor James R. Thompson
James R. Thompson
James Robert Thompson, Jr. , also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the 37th and longest serving Governor of the US state of Illinois...
.
Bakalis received his bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1959, 1962, and 1966, respectively. His academic career includes service as assistant dean at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, dean of the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, and as the President of Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
. He has also been a member of the faculty at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University since 1994, where he teaches public and non-profit management, policy, and strategy.
In government and politics, Bakalis served as the Illinois State Superintendent of Education from 1971 to 1975 and as Illinois Comptroller from 1977 to 1979. Having built a reputation as a staunch advocate of education, in 1978, he won the Democratic nomination for governor. During the election, Bakalis was critical of Governor Thompson's education and tax policies, and aggressively courted voters. However, because Thompson was serving an unusual two-year term as governor—and had thus been in office only nine months when Bakalis began his campaign, Bakalis had difficulty challenging the incumbent's record; he lost the election by a margin of 60 to 40. At the time, it was the largest defeat for an Illinois Democrat seeking the office since 1928.
After his unsuccessful bid for governorship, Bakalis served as a Deputy Undersecretary in the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
of the Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
administration from 1980 to 1982, where he administered ten regional offices. In 1988, he managed the Illinois campaign of Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
' bid for the Presidency of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. In 2002, Bakalis made another run for governor, but had to drop out before the Democratic primary
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....
because of a lack of money.
Bakalis is also the founder, President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of American Quality Schools, an education management organization that operates charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
s in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
.