Edward Vrdolyak - Legal Career and Politics

Legal Career and Politics

Vrdolyak, born to Croatian immigrant parents, entered a Catholic seminary at age 13, but decided against joining the priesthood. He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, then from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1963 and began a legal career in private practice, specializing in personal injury cases. Today the Vrdolyak Law Group consists of 16 attorneys. Vrdolyak and his three sons are partners in the firm.

He also became actively involved in Chicago politics, and in 1968 he was elected as Democratic Committeeman from Chicago's 10th Ward in the South Deering area, a position he held until 1988. In 1971 he was elected alderman, and he served as President of the City Council from 1977 to 1983. Vrdolyak earned the nickname "Fast Eddie" because of his skill in back room dealmaking.

In 1979, he managed the re-election campaign of Mayor Michael Bilandic. In a colossal upset, Bilandic lost to maverick Jane Byrne. Despite the fact that Byrne then stripped Vrdolyak of all powers except his aldermanic seat, he became Byrne's chief ally against both the good-government Independents and the old Organization Democrats, becoming her floor leader in the Council. In 1982, with Byrne's support, he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee, ousting County Board President George Dunne, an ally of Richard M. Daley, son of the late Mayor.

He is most noted for leading the opposition in the City Council to Mayor Harold Washington from 1983 to 1987. Washington had been elected after a three-way primary in which the Byrne-Vrdolyak and Daley-Dunne factions split the white vote.

However, there was a solid majority of 29 "organization" aldermen (28 whites and 1 Latino) opposed to Washington (16 blacks and 5 white independents supported the mayor). Vrdolyak became the leader of the opposition group, along with 14th Ward alderman Ed Burke. The "Eddies" faction could vote down any mayoral appointment or appropriation, though not override the mayor's veto. The resulting political deadlock was characterised as the "Council Wars".

In 1986, a federal lawsuit forced the redrawing of some aldermanic districts, and special elections for those districts. Three of Vrdolyak's allies were defeated by pro-Washington candidates in the first round of voting. Six weeks later when Washington ally Luis Gutiérrez won the run-off election in the 26th ward the council was split 25-25, creating a tie which the Mayor could break. At this point several more of the "organization" aldermen went over to Washington, giving him control. Vrdolyak was again stripped of his Council powers. In 1987, he resigned as county Democratic chairman, and ran for mayor as the Solidarity Party nominee . He was defeated by Washington, who got 53% of the vote to Vrdolyak's 42%.

Washington's second term began more smoothly (he died in November 1987), and Vrdolyak's political clout waned. In light of these factors, as well as his growing unpopularity among Democrats, Vrdolyak joined the Republican Party in September 1987. In 1988, Vrdolyak was the Republican candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He lost to Democrat Aurelia Pucinski, daughter of long-time Organization stalwart Roman Pucinski. Vrdolyak got only 41% of the vote to 59% for Pucinski. In 1989, Vrdolyak again ran for mayor, in a special election for the last half of Washington's term; he won the Republican primary as a write-in candidate. The general election was won by Democrat Richard M. Daley. Vrdolyak managed less than 4% of the vote, effectively ending his political career.

After his final electoral defeat, Vrdolyak returned to his law practice. He hosted a popular talk radio show from 1993 to 1996 – first on WLS radio (890 AM) and then on WJJD Radio (1160 AM). He also maintained a strong behind-the-scenes presence in Chicago area politics. He became best known for his influence in the appointment and election of Cook County Circuit Court judges. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman confirmed that at least two judges he appointed to the bench were recommended by Vrdolyak. Vrdolyak was also a key adviser to Betty Loren-Maltese, former Town President of the suburb of Cicero. The Vrdolyak Law Group received millions of dollars in legal work from the town of Cicero during the administrations of Loren-Maltese and her successor, Ramiro Gonzalez. Maltese was convicted in 2002 on federal corruption charges, and Gonzalez was defeated in the 2005 election.