John Cullerton

{{Short description|American politician (born 1948)}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2010}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John Cullerton | image = John Cullerton.jpg | caption = Cullerton in 2013 | office = 38th President of the Illinois Senate | term_start = January 14, 2009 | term_end = January 19, 2020 | predecessor = Emil Jones | successor = Don Harmon | state_senate1 = Illinois | district1 = 6th | term_start1 = January 31, 1991 | term_end1 = January 20, 2020 | predecessor1 = Dawn Clark Netsch | successor1 = Sara Feigenholtz | state_house2 = Illinois | district2 = 7th | prior_term2 = 12th district (1979–1983) | term_start2 = January 10, 1979 | term_end2 = January 31, 1991 | predecessor2 = Ellis B. Levin<ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/bb/id/38030 Illinois Blue Book 1977-1978], page 90</ref> | successor2 = Ann Stepan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|10|28}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Pam Cullerton | children = 5 | education = Loyola University, Chicago {{small|(BA, JD)}} | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{army|United States}} | service_years = 1970–1976 | unit = Illinois National Guard }} '''John J. Cullerton''' (born October 28, 1948) is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 6th district from his appointment in 1991 to 2020. He served as President of the Illinois Senate from 2009 to 2020.

On November 14, 2019 Cullerton announced to the other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus that he intended to retire in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2019/11/14/20965847/sneed-senate-president-john-cullerton-retire-january-promise-kept|title=Senate President John Cullerton says plan to retire in January is a 'promise kept'|last=Sneed|first=Michael|date=2019-11-14|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> Cullerton was then replaced by the State Senator for the 39th district, Don Harmon in a closed door vote of the Illinois Senate on January 19, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/don-harmon-elected-president-of-illinois-state-senate/2203790/|title=Don Harmon Elected President of Illinois State Senate|last=Bremer|first=Shelby|date=2019-01-20|website=NBC Chicago|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref> Cullerton formally resigned from the Senate the next day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://capitolfax.com/2020/01/20/john-cullerton-has-now-officially-resigned-from-illinois-senate/|title=Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » John Cullerton has now officially resigned from the Illinois Senate|website=capitolfax.com|access-date=2020-01-20}}</ref>

== Early life == Cullerton is a native of Chicago. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Loyola University of Chicago, where he also earned his J.D. degree. After graduating from law school, Cullerton served as a Chicago Assistant Public Defender. He went on to work at the law firm of Fagel and Haber.<ref>[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/people/find-a-professional/john-cullerton.aspx Firm Profile.]</ref>

Cullerton is a member of the Cullerton political family, dating its political involvement back to longtime Chicago alderman Edward Cullerton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Better-Know--An-Alderman-Timothy-Cullerton-38th-Ward-166758626.html |title=Better Know an Alderman: Timothy Cullerton |publisher=NBC Chicago |access-date=2013-01-30}}</ref>

== Political career ==

=== Illinois House === thumb|official portrait , circa 1987

In 1979, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly where he served for twelve years as a member of the House of Representatives. He served as Democratic Floor Leader. According to Cullerton's campaign website, he sponsored the most bills and had the most bills passed of all legislators in the 93rd and 94th General Assemblies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.senatorcullerton.com/Biography.htm |title=John Cullerton |access-date=2008-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705110513/http://www.senatorcullerton.com/Biography.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }}</ref>

=== Illinois Senate === After being appointed to fill Dawn Clark Netsch's seat in 1991, Cullerton was elected to the state senate in 1992 where he was appointed Senate Majority Caucus Whip. Cullerton has been recognized for sponsoring more bills than any other legislator and having more signed into law by the governor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 1994, Cullerton challenged embattled incumbent Dan Rostenkowski in the Democratic primary for Illinois's 5th congressional district, placing second of five candidates, behind Rostenkowski and ahead of three others (including former aldermen Dick Simpson and Michael A. Wojcik).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gratteau |first1=Hanke |title=TRUTH GETTING LOST IN PRIMARY BATTLE AS CULLERTON, FOES SPIN THEIR YARNS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-03-11-9403110284-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2 June 2020 |date=11 March 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Thomas |title=Rostenkowski leads, but Cullerton keeps pace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/241498965 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=8 March 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 Mar 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, MARCH 15, 1994 |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1994/1994%20PE.PDF |website=www.elections.il.gov |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |accessdate=2 June 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Cullerton was chosen as the senate president by the Senate Democratic Caucus on November 19, 2008 to begin serving in 2009, replacing the retiring Emil Jones.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Cullerton to lead Senate | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-11-20-0811200239-story.html | author = Rick Pearson and Ray Long | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | date = November 20, 2008 | access-date = June 3, 2022 }}</ref>

His first legislative priority as senate president was to pass the first Capital Bill in 10 years, which allocated roughly $31 billion for public works projects and created tens of thousands of jobs{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} in Illinois Public Act 096-0036 [http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-0036]. Cullerton led the senate during the impeachment trial, and subsequent removal, of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

Cullerton served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2012/09/who_are_the_illinois_delegates_to_the_democratic_national_convention.html |title=Who are the Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention? |access-date=2012-09-06 |date=2012-09-02 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |author=Newman, Craig |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502142630/http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2012/09/who_are_the_illinois_delegates_to_the_democratic_national_convention.html |archive-date=2013-05-02 }}</ref>

=== Controversy === In May 2017, Cullerton intervened in a land dispute outside of his district when he advocated, on behalf of the Keefe Family Trust, to pave over a section of publicly owned wetland to build a 28 foot long driveway, which would require killing approximately 48 mature trees in a small old-growth forest.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-cullerton-easement-wilmette-trust-tl-0518-20170518-story.html|title=Wilmette land owners want Evanston easement before building homes|date=2017-05-18|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> Despite the opposition and objections of the Village of Wilmette, the City of Evanston,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/10/16/city/residents-evanston-and-wilmette-oppose-canal-shores-land-easement/|title=Residents, Evanston and Wilmette oppose Canal Shores land easement|date=2018-10-16|work=The Daily Northwestern|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> the publicly operated Canal Shores Golf Course<ref>[https://canalshores.org/dontpave10/ Don't Pave 10]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/canal-shores-golf-course-board-adamantly-opposes-proposed-roadway|title=Canal Shores Golf Course Board Adamantly Opposes Proposed Roadway|date=2018-10-05|work=Evanston Patch|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> and numerous community organizations,<ref>[http://centralstreetneighbors.com/node/1472 Central Street Neighbors]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2017/05/18/city/officials-block-plan-to-build-road-through-isabella-woods/|title=Officials block plan to build road through Isabella Woods|date=2017-05-18|work=The Daily Northwestern|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://evanstonroundtable.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=13685|title=Editorial: We Oppose an Easement to Build a Road Through Isabella Woods|date=2017-05-17|work=Evanston RoundTable|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> Cullerton met with local officials on multiple occasions to argue in favor of a driveway to access a landlocked parcel so the Keefe Family Trust could build a subdivision of three houses. The parcel had been landlocked when the Keefe Family Trust purchased it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/mwrd-board-rejects-isabella-woods-easement-request|title=MWRD Board Rejects Isabella Woods Easement Request: A developer's decades-long push to gain access to landlocked property was blocked by a unanimous vote Thursday.|date=2017-05-19|work=Evanston Patch|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref>

== Professional career == Cullerton served part-time as an Illinois state senator. Fagel Haber merged with Thompson Coburn LLP in 2007, and Cullerton continues as a partner,<ref>[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/people/find-a-professional/john-cullerton.aspx Thompson Coburn Attorney Profile.]</ref> practicing in the areas of government relations, zoning, licensing, real estate tax assessment, and nonprofit law.

== Retirement == Cullerton announced in November 2019 that he would officially retire and step down as Illinois Senate President in January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-senate-president-john-cullerton-retires-20191115-wai33im7sfcv5lwphmfa6ddsbe-story.html. |title=Illinois Senate President John Cullerton retiring in January |date=November 14, 2019 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

== Personal life == Cullerton and his wife, Pam, have five children.<ref>[http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/files/cullertonspeech.pdf Transcript of Cullerton's Inaugural Speech, January 2008]</ref>

=== Controversy ===

On June 6, 2019, Bishop Thomas Paprocki issued a decree officially barring Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton from presenting themselves to receive the Eucharist on account of their role in Passing the Reproductive Health Act, which removes spousal consent and waiting periods for abortions. While singling out Madigan and Cullerton specifically, Paprocki also asked that other legislators who voted for the bill not present themselves for Communion either, stating that they had "cooperated in evil and committed grave sin." Madigan stated that Paprocki had informed him earlier that he would be forbidden from taking the sacrament if he permitted the House to debate and vote on the measure, but that he chose to do so.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-catholic-church-sanctions-illinois-lawmakers-mike-madigan-20190605-story.html |title=Catholic bishop in Springfield: No communion for Madigan, Cullerton for supporting 'abominable' Illinois abortion rights bill |last=Malagón |first=Elvia |date=June 6, 2019 |newspaper=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1865?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the 98th Illinois General Assembly **By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1865 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1639 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1423 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1209 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=981 94th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=93&MemberID=719 93rd] *[http://www.senatorcullerton.com/ Illinois Senate President John Cullerton] legislative website *[http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/index.php/sen-cullerton-home Senate President John J. Cullerton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107025248/http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/index.php/sen-cullerton-home |date=January 7, 2014 }} at Illinois Senate Democrats * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=6249 | fec= | congress= }} *[http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/john-j-cullerton-PEPLT001435.topic Collected news and commentary] at the ''Chicago Tribune'' *{{C-SPAN|1031694}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Emil Jones}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Illinois Senate|years=2009–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Don Harmon}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cullerton, John}} Category:1948 births Category:Catholics from Illinois Category:Lawyers from Chicago Category:Living people Category:Loyola University Chicago alumni Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Presidents of the Illinois Senate Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators Category:Public defenders Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly John