John Fritchey
Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune
Commissioner Fritchey’s chief legislative issues:
Health Care
Crime Prevention
Government Ethics
Education
Taxes
Seniors
Consumer Protection
Mass Transit
Environment
John has been a champion of many issues, from ethics reform to consumer protection to health care to fairer taxes. Through it all, he has consistently shown that he is not afraid to buck party leadership and stand up for his constituents and all of Illinois.
A steadfast leader and sponsor of numerous pieces of ethics legislation, Fritchey was the Chief Sponsor and was instrumental in passing into law the pay-to-play ban that now prohibits significant campaign contributions by companies bidding for large state contracts. As a result of his efforts, the Chicago Tribune heralded his 2008 legislation banning pay-to-play “the strongest campaign fundraising restrictions state lawmakers have ever approved.”
John was also one of the earliest and most vocal critics of Rod Blagojevich and the former Governor’s continual abuse of power. In the wake of the Blagojevich impeachment in January 2009, John sponsored and helped pass two pieces of legislation that reform how the state conducts business moving forward. The first bill changes Illinois’ procurement laws insulating decisions from political influence and the second bill expands the Freedom of Information Act, creating more transparency in government operations.
In addition to good government reform, John has tackled numerous other important issues facing Illinois. Collaborating with his colleagues in the State House, he helped expand family health care programs to provide coverage for working families without access to medical care. He fought to help more struggling senior citizens through the State’s Circuit Breaker program, expanding prescription drug coverage to seniors with low incomes.
John has been a proud champion of legislation that strengthens environmental preservation laws, expands protected wilderness areas, and increases investment in renewable energy. The Illinois Environment Council recently honored John for his 100% voting record on environmental issues impacting our community and its resources.
In addition to affecting change statewide, John has had the privilege of bringing about substantive changes at the local level as well. This year, John co-sponsored and helped pass legislation that doubles the number of charter schools from 60 to 120. He was instrumental in passing legislation that reduced the Cook County veto override threshold down from a 4/5 majority to a 3/5 majority – a more acceptable, just, and democratic threshold that eventually allowed the County Board to override Board President Todd Stroger’s veto of the sales tax rollback. And John drafted and passed legislation requiring companies who receive TIF funds to return taxpayers money if they choose to close or relocate their business.
John has stood at the forefront of the fight to protect the rights of families and taxpayers throughout the state of Illinois. From providing seniors and families with access to affordable and adequate health care to expanding educational opportunities to property tax and TIF reform to cleaning up and maintaining our environment, John has consistently fought for his constituents.
John served as the Chairman of the Civil Judiciary Committee and as Vice-Chairman of the Business & Occupational Licenses Committee. In addition to serving in these leadership positions, John sat on the Financial Institutions, Insurance, Mass Transit and JCAR Committees.
* As a Cook County Commissioner, John is the Chair of the Technology Committee, Vice-Chair of Finance-Litigation and Vice-Chair of the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. He is a Member on the Finance-Labor, Finance – Workers’ Compensation, Human Relations, Law Enforcement, and Rules & Administration Committees.
More about John
The son of a Vietnam veteran, John Fritchey was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. John moved to Chicago with his mother, where he attended grammar school and high school. He went on to receive a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1986 before returning home to Chicago where he earned a law degree from Northwestern University Law School in 1989. Following law school, John became an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing the State in both state and federal courts.
Early in his legislative career, John’s active support from both local elected officials and his broad grassroots garnered so much attention that political publications named John the “new face of Chicago Democrats”. In 2000, as a result of his effective leadership and centrist views, the national Democratic Leadership Council named John as one of their “100 Rising Stars to Watch” in the country. In 2003, John was one of a select group to receive this honor for a second time. Not much has changed from his humble beginnings. John continues to be recognized from state and local organizations as a thoughtful and effective leader not only for his constituents, but for the State of Illinois.
In addition to his service as a state legislator, John has taught as an adjunct lecturer in political science at Northwestern University. He is involved with numerous civic organizations, local community groups and chambers of commerce. He also created the John Fritchey Youth Foundation, designed to create educational and recreational opportunities for local children through the sponsorship of academic and sports programs.
-From John Fritchey…For Us! Website/Portions edited by Al Codero
* Added by Al Cordero/ Information courtesy of cookcountygov.com/
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