Edward Vrdolyak

Vrdolyak's brother, Victor Vrdolyak (1933-1992), would also serve as a Chicago alderman (being elected in 1987 to succeed Edward on the city council).

Edward Robert Vrdolyak (born December 28, 1937), also known as "Fast Eddie", is a former American politician and lawyer.

He received his J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1963 and began a legal career in private practice, specializing in personal injury cases.

In 1968, he was elected as Democratic Committeeman from Chicago's 10th Ward in the Hegewisch and South Deering areas; a position he held until 1988.

In 1971, he was elected alderman, and, after defeating Republican Melvin Simonovich, he served as President of the City Council from 1977 to 1983.

Vrdolyak earned the nickname "Fast Eddie" because of his skill in back-room deal-making.

In 1979, he managed the re-election campaign of Mayor Michael Bilandic.

In a colossal upset, Bilandic narrowly lost to maverick Jane Byrne.

Despite the fact that Byrne then stripped Vrdolyak of all powers except his aldermanic seat, he became Byrne's chief ally against both independent and Regular Democrats, becoming her floor leader in the Council.

In 1982, with Byrne's support, he was elected Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee, ousting County Board President George Dunne.

He is most noted for leading the opposition in the City Council to Mayor Harold Washington from 1983 to 1987.

After beating Mayor Byrne and Richard M. Daley in the Democratic Primary, Washington won the general election by 47,549 votes.

A solid majority of 29 aldermen (27 Regular Democrats and two independents) opposed Washington (21 aldermen supported the mayor).

In 1986, a federal lawsuit forced the redrawing of some aldermanic wards, and special elections in some, but not all, of the redrawn wards.

Members of the Vrdolyak 29 were incumbents in all seven of the wards going to the polls.

Four of them did not seek reelection, including three who sought seats on the county board.

Two of the three attempting to retain their seats were reelected in the first round, but a third, Alderman Brady, lost six weeks later in a run-off; the council was split 25-25, creating a tie which the mayor could break.

At this point, several of the Vrdolyak 29 began to support Washington, giving him a supportive council.

He was a longtime Chicago alderman and the head of the Cook County Democratic Party until 1987 when he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago on the Illinois Solidarity Party ticket.

In 1987, Vrdolyak resigned as county Democratic chairman, and ran for mayor as the Solidarity Party nominee, defeating a candidate backed by Washington in the primary.

He was defeated by Washington, who got 53% of the vote to Vrdolyak's 42%.

Washington's second term began more smoothly, but he unexpectedly died in November 1987 and Vrdolyak's political clout waned.

In light of these factors, as well as his growing unpopularity among Democrats, Vrdolyak joined the Republican Party in September 1987.

In 1988, Vrdolyak was the Republican nominee for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

He received 41% of the vote; Democrat Aurelia Pucinski (daughter of Alderman and former US Representative Roman Pucinski) won with 59%.

He subsequently ran again in 1989 on the Republican Party ticket.

He was a prominent opponent of Harold Washington and the de facto leader of the so-called "Vrdolyak 29" that opposed and blocked many of Washington's measures.

After his electoral career ended, he resumed his law practice at The Vrdolyak Law Group.

It consists of 20 attorneys.

Vrdolyak's three sons are partners in the firm.

Vrdolyak, born to Croatian immigrant parents, entered a Catholic seminary at age 13, but decided against joining the priesthood.

He graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, then from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.

In 1989, Vrdolyak again ran for mayor, in a special election for the last half of Washington's term; he won the Republican primary as a write-in candidate.

The general election was won by Democrat Richard M. Daley.

Vrdolyak managed less than 4% of the vote, effectively ending his political career.

After his final electoral defeat, Vrdolyak returned to his law practice.

He hosted a popular talk radio show from 1993 to 1996, first on WLS radio (890 AM) and then on WJJD Radio (1160 AM).

Vrdolyak and 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke led the opposition group.

The Vrdolyak 29 rejected mayoral appointments and appropriations, but could not override the mayor's veto.

The resulting political deadlock was labeled "Council Wars".