Thomas Hynes

Thomas C. Hynes (born November 5, 1938) is a former Cook County Assessor, President of the Illinois Senate, candidate for mayor of Chicago (in 1987) and 19th Ward Democratic Committeeman. He is the father of former Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes.^[1]

Biography

Born in on the south side of Chicago, Hynes served in the United States Army Reserve as a captain. He received his bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago and his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He practiced law and taught law at John Marshall Law School (Chicago).

He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1970 and served as President of the Illinois Senate in 1977.^[2] and as Democratic committeeman of the 19th ward of Chicago. While serving as Cook County Assessor, he began the automation of the office.

Hynes was elected Cook County Assessor in 1978 and re-elected four times, resigning in 1997.

In 1987, though a Democratic Party official, he ran on a new ticket, the "Chicago First" party against Harold Washington for mayor. Initially Hynes, who had not been visible in the racially polarized "Council Wars" of Washington's first term, polled well, but his support declined over the course of the campaign, and shortly before the election he dropped out, urging his supporters to support Washington's opponents, Ed Vrdolyak or Donald Haider. ^[3]

^[4].

References