Larry Suffredin

Larry Suffredin
Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 13th District
Assumed office
January 2003 (2003-01)
Preceded by Calvin Sutker
Personal details
Born (1947-10-05) October 5, 1947
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Gloria Callaci
Children Tom Suffredin
Elizabeth Suffredin
Alma mater Georgetown University
Loyola University
Occupation Evanston, Illinois
Profession Attorney

Lawrence J. "Larry" Suffredin (born October 5, 1947) is currently a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners representing the 13th district which includes the West Ridge and Rogers Park areas of the City of Chicago as well as Glencoe, Niles, Lincolnwood, Evanston, Skokies, Glenview, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northfield and Winnetka in the north suburbs.[1]

Early life and education

Suffredin was born October 5, 1947[2] in Evergreen Park, Illinois, and grew up in Westchester, Illinois. He was the first of eight children born to Lawrence J. Suffredin Sr., a World War II combat veteran, and Patricia Mulrainey Suffredin. His father worked as a Chicago policeman and then became the "Printer to South Water Market" as the owner of Chicago Produce Publishing Company which reported on the local fruit and vegetable market.[3]

After studies at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, he received his bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1969 and his law degree from Georgetown University in 1972.[2]

Public service

Suffredin worked at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC 1969-1970 while in law school. He was an officer in the United States Air Force 1972-1973. He served as an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County from May 15, 1973 to June 30, 1975. He tried 32 juries to verdict as an Assistant Public Defender. He served Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan as special counsel for gaming issues and was the first executive for the new Missouri Gaming Board from 1992-1994. He served as special counsel for the City of Detroit on gaming issues. Suffredin is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Harbor Quest, Inc., a nonprofit staffing and placement services agency, and serves on the board of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

Professional career

Suffredin is an attorney; he has argued before the Illinois and United States Supreme Court as well as the United States Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate Court. He has tried 136 juries to verdicts.

Suffredin is in private law practice from 1975 to present, while serving as a Cook County Commissioner. Suffredin is a partner in the law firm of Shefsky & Froelich (bio) with practices in the areas of lobbying, gaming, government regulation, and securities law. Suffredin served as lead counsel in filing successful gaming applications with the Illinois Gaming Board for riverboat gaming operations. Suffredin has represented the following public entities: Cook County Forest Preserve, Chicago Transit Authority, and the Cities of Chicago, Elgin and Evanston.

Suffredin is a registered lobbyist[4][5] with Cook County,[6] the City of Chicago,[7] and the State of Illinois.[8] Suffredin's lobbyist clients include or have included resort and casino company MGM Mirage, owners of the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois, and Penn National Gaming, owners of the Hollywood Casino, Aurora, Illinois, the Illinois Alliance of Competitive Telephone Companies, the Donors Forum of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Alliance, and Illinois Citizens for Handgun Control, the Chicago Bar Association, and Kankakee Regional Landfill LLC.[9][10] He is also a registered lobbyist for Abbott Laboratories, Nursepower Services Corporation, and Quest Diagnostics.[6][7][8][11]

Cook County Commissioner

Suffredin serves part-time as a Commissioner on the Cook County Board. Suffredin is Chairperson of the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations and Veterans Committee A committee of the whole, which recommends county positions on state and federal legislation, tracking state and federal funds earmarked for the county; reviews appointments to county boards and commissions, and reviews programs to benefit military veterans. He also serves on the Litigation, Tax and Revenue, Rules and Administration, and the Botanic Garden Committees.

On February 29, 2008 Suffredin voted for,[12] and on July 22, 2008 voted to uphold,[13] a historic Cook County sales tax increase, remaining the highest sales tax rate in the nation. The Chicago Tribune editorialized that Suffredin "caved to pressure from public employee unions...and he provided the winning vote for this bureaucracy-friendly tax hike" and encouraged constituents to contact Suffredin to "acknowledge the error" by co-sponsoring its repeal.[14]

Personal life

Suffredin and his wife, Gloria Callaci, live in Evanston, Illinois, and have two adult children, Tom and Elizabeth.[2]

2008 Cook County State's Attorney Campaign

Suffredin lost to Anita Alvarez for party nomination in the February 2008 Democratic primary for Cook County State's Attorney.

References

  1. ↑ "Cook County Commissioner District 9 Municipalities" (PDF). Office of the Cook County Clerk. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cook County Board Election Questionnaire" (PDF). Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2010-02-17. External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ↑ "Lawrence J. Suffredin Sr.". Chicago Tribune. 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2010-02-17. External link in |work= (help)
  4. ↑ Pallasch, Abdon (2005-02-07). "No conflicts of interest here, lobbyist insists". Chicago Sun-Times.
  5. ↑ Sullivan, John; Tulsky, Fredric N. (2012-01-05). "When Office Holders Also Represent Clients, Collisions Are Likely". New York Times.
  6. 1 2 Cook County Clerk, Ethics and Campaign Disclosure division (2007-05-17). "Active Cook Lobbyists and Clients". Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  7. 1 2 Chicago Board of Ethics (2007-06-15). "List of Registered Lobbyists". Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  8. 1 2 Illinois Secretary of State, Lobbyist Division (2007-09-05). "Lobbyist List". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  9. ↑ Herman, Eric; Novak (2008-01-30). "The company Suffredin keeps". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-02-01. External link in |work= (help)
  10. ↑ Robinson, Kevin (2008-01-31). "Suffredin Takes a Hit". Chicagoist. External link in |work= (help)
  11. ↑ "Suffredin's lobbying clients". Chicago Sun-Times. 2008-01-24.
  12. ↑ Olmstead, Rob (2008-02-29). "Cook County board hikes taxes". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2008-08-06. External link in |work= (help)
  13. ↑ Dardick, Hal (2008-07-22). "Cook County Board rejects sales tax increase repeal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-08-06. External link in |work= (help)
  14. ↑ "Your sales tax calendar". Chicago Tribune. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-15. External link in |work= (help)
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