Thomas M. Tunney
Encyclopedia
Thomas M. Tunney is an American
entrepreneur
and politician
from Chicago, Illinois. Since 2003, he has served as an alderman
on the Chicago City Council
. He represents the prominent 44th Ward of the city, which includes major tourist destinations, Boystown and Wrigleyville neighborhoods.
. After graduating from Brother Rice
, a local Catholic
high school
, he attended the University of Illinois
where he obtained his bachelor's degree in restaurant management. Tunney succeeded in obtaining a master's degree in hotel administration from Cornell University
.
, Tunney settled into the Lakeview
neighborhood. Hearing that Ann Sather was retiring and closing her restaurant in Lakeview in 1981, Tunney met with Sather, offering a proposal to purchase her business. Tunney gained full ownership of the Ann Sather Restaurant and expanded it into a successful local chain.
Tunney joined several prestigious entrepreneurial circles and became chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association. He founded and led the Lakeview Center Business Association and White Crane Wellness Center. As a result of his success, Tunney was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
in 1995.
and AIDS
through programs he created, adopted by the Illinois Masonic Hospital. With a growing business network, Tunney became a fundraiser for local gay and lesbian political advocacy groups.
Tunney chaired the small business subcommittee of the Chicago Economic Development Committee. Mayor
Richard M. Daley
appointed Tunney to the mayor's Parking Task Force.
announced that he would retire. Hansen resigned just months before the election so as to allow the mayor to appoint the replacement alderman. Mayor Richard M. Daley
, with Hansen's consent, nominated Tunney to replace Hansen in December 2002. Tunney's nomination was confirmed by a 41–0 vote of the city council on January 16, 2003, and, with the support of the political machine of Chicago's Democratic Party, Tunney was elected to a four-year term as alderman on February 25, 2003. He has been re-elected twice, in 2007 and 2011.
Tunney said during his campaign for alderman that he would sell his interest in four Ann Sather restaurants in order to serve as a full-time alderman and to eliminate a potential conflict of interest. After being elected and sworn in, Tunney decided not to sell.
Tunney introduced an ordinance repealing Chicago's ban on foie gras
in July 2007 and spearheaded passage of the repeal on May 14, 2008.
On May 11, 2009, Tunney suspended longtime aide Zodak Yonan, who parked at parking meters without paying, while using a fake "Official 44th Ward Business" placard. The placard featured the Chicago city seal. City ordinance forbids unauthorized use of the seal. Yonan was paid by the city as a contract employee, working about 100 hours a month in Tunney's office for $10 an hour. Yonan is also a voter registrar for the 44th Ward Democrats. On Friday, July 3, 2009, just about 5:30 p.m. before a holiday weekend, Tunney sent out an e-mail announcing Yonan had "retired."
, who plays Agent Lisbon on The Mentalist
.
Tunney is one of two openly gay members of the Chicago City Council, alongside James Cappleman
of the 46th Ward.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Chicago, Illinois. Since 2003, he has served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
. He represents the prominent 44th Ward of the city, which includes major tourist destinations, Boystown and Wrigleyville neighborhoods.
Education
Tunney was born and raised in the southwest side of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. After graduating from Brother Rice
Brother Rice High School (Chicago)
Brother Rice High School is an all-male, Catholic, college preparatory institution located in Chicago, Illinois, and is administered under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
, a local Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he attended the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
where he obtained his bachelor's degree in restaurant management. Tunney succeeded in obtaining a master's degree in hotel administration from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Entrepreneur
Returning from collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, Tunney settled into the Lakeview
Lakeview, Chicago
Lake View, or Lakeview, is one of the 77 community area of the Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. It is bordered by West Diversey Parkway on the south, West Irving Park Road on the north, North Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and the shore of Lake Michigan on the east...
neighborhood. Hearing that Ann Sather was retiring and closing her restaurant in Lakeview in 1981, Tunney met with Sather, offering a proposal to purchase her business. Tunney gained full ownership of the Ann Sather Restaurant and expanded it into a successful local chain.
Tunney joined several prestigious entrepreneurial circles and became chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association. He founded and led the Lakeview Center Business Association and White Crane Wellness Center. As a result of his success, Tunney was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame is an institution founded in 1991 to honor persons and entities who have made significant contributions to the quality of life or well-being of the LGBT community in Chicago. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley attended nearly every installation ceremony each...
in 1995.
Public service
Tunney opened his restaurants to grassroots and nonprofit organizations as town halls, serving as free meeting places. He committed himself to helping people with HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
through programs he created, adopted by the Illinois Masonic Hospital. With a growing business network, Tunney became a fundraiser for local gay and lesbian political advocacy groups.
Tunney chaired the small business subcommittee of the Chicago Economic Development Committee. Mayor
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
appointed Tunney to the mayor's Parking Task Force.
Alderman
In 2002, just months before the 2003 municipal elections, 44th Ward Alderman Bernie HansenBernie Hansen
Bernie Hansen was a longtime Chicago alderman, serving on the Chicago City Council from 1983 to 2002, when he retired as alderman of the 44th Ward citing health reasons. He is a Democrat....
announced that he would retire. Hansen resigned just months before the election so as to allow the mayor to appoint the replacement alderman. Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
, with Hansen's consent, nominated Tunney to replace Hansen in December 2002. Tunney's nomination was confirmed by a 41–0 vote of the city council on January 16, 2003, and, with the support of the political machine of Chicago's Democratic Party, Tunney was elected to a four-year term as alderman on February 25, 2003. He has been re-elected twice, in 2007 and 2011.
Tunney said during his campaign for alderman that he would sell his interest in four Ann Sather restaurants in order to serve as a full-time alderman and to eliminate a potential conflict of interest. After being elected and sworn in, Tunney decided not to sell.
Tunney introduced an ordinance repealing Chicago's ban on foie gras
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
in July 2007 and spearheaded passage of the repeal on May 14, 2008.
On May 11, 2009, Tunney suspended longtime aide Zodak Yonan, who parked at parking meters without paying, while using a fake "Official 44th Ward Business" placard. The placard featured the Chicago city seal. City ordinance forbids unauthorized use of the seal. Yonan was paid by the city as a contract employee, working about 100 hours a month in Tunney's office for $10 an hour. Yonan is also a voter registrar for the 44th Ward Democrats. On Friday, July 3, 2009, just about 5:30 p.m. before a holiday weekend, Tunney sent out an e-mail announcing Yonan had "retired."
Personal
Tunney is the cousin of Robin TunneyRobin Tunney
Robin Jessica Tunney is an American actress. She is best known for her lead roles in the movie The Craft and the television series Prison Break and The Mentalist.-Early life:...
, who plays Agent Lisbon on The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
.
Tunney is one of two openly gay members of the Chicago City Council, alongside James Cappleman
James Cappleman
James Cappleman is an American licensed clinical social worker and politician. On April 5, 2011, Cappleman was elected to the Chicago City Council, representing the 46th Ward...
of the 46th Ward.