Glenn Dawson

Glenn V. Dawson is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1979-1980 and the Illinois Senate from 1980-1987.

Glenn Dawson
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 14th district
30th district (1978-1981)
In office
December 3, 1978 (1978-Dec-03) – January 14, 1987 (1987-Jan-14)
Preceded bySamuel C. Maragos
Succeeded byHoward B. Brookins Sr.
Personal details
Born (1944-01-31) January 31, 1944
Chicago, Illinois
Died(2021-03-23)March 23, 2021
Michigan City, Indiana
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenThree
ResidenceChesterton, Indiana
Alma materSaint Joseph's College

Early life

Dawson was born January 31, 1944, in Chicago.[1] He attended Annunciata grade school and George Washington High School. He attended college at Calumet College of St. Joseph. He also attended the Chicago Marine Navigation School. He became a licensed Master and First Class Marine Pilot by the United States Coast Guard.[2]

Business career

Dawson's business career has centered around maritime industries. In the 1980s, he owned Chicago Fleeting and Marine Repair Service, a firm which was later accused of inappropriately using public resources.[3] Dawson owns Chicago Cruises Company, which operates the MV Chicago.[4] In 2000, it was revealed that one of his companies was misrepresented as a female owned business, costing its contracts with the City of Chicago.[5] As of 2013, he owns Dawson Marine Services.[6]

Political career

Dawson was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1976 general election and sworn into office November 14, 1976.[7] After Dawson was elected to the Illinois Senate, Maragos resigned which allowed Dawson to take office a month early.[8] After the decennial reapportionment, Dawson was slated into a majority-black district, but was able to be re-slated by the district's committeemen.[9]

During his time in the legislature, he opposed additional landfills in Hegewisch, where he resided.[10] Dawson opted to run for the Democratic nomination for Illinois's 2nd congressional district in the 1984 United States House of Representatives election against incumbent Gus Savage. Savage won renomination with 55,137 votes (45.05%) to Dawson's 26,868 votes (21.95%). Dawson placed second of the five candidates finishing ahead of Leon Davis, Robert Shaw, and James C. Taylor.[11]

He lost the 1986 Democratic primary to Howard Brookins, a State Representative from Washington Heights.[12] Dawson, who had once been considered heir apparent to Ed Vrdolyak's city council seat, chose to back Clem Balanoff in the 1987 aldermanic election after Ed's brother Victor Vrdolyak was appointed instead. Dawson had previously run against Balanoff for Democratic Committeeman as an Ed Vrdolyak ally after the latter switched to the Republican Party.[13]

References
  1. Edgar, Jim, ed. (1986). "Senator - District 18 Glenn V. Dawson". Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 81. ASIN B000EEMALY.
  2. Dixon, Alan J., ed. (1980). "Representative - 30th District Glenn V. Dawson". Illinois Blue Book 1979-1980. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 126. ASIN B000EEMALY.
  3. Burton, Thomas M.; Gaines, William (September 29, 1985). "Dawson Firm Has Proved Costly To Public". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  4. Gruszecki, Debra (March 24, 1994). "Anchors aweigh for cruise business". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. Simpson, Burney (June 15, 2000). "Sharing the Wealth: The good news is that Illinois government appears to be doing a creditable job of promoting economic development among minorities". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. pp. 14–17. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  6. Alexander, Dave (December 6, 2013). "Muskegon Lake river-barge proposal gains traction as interested parties gather in Muskegon". Muskegon Chronicle. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  7. Day, William L., ed. (January 1, 1977). "Names - Appointments". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University.
  8. Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (February 15, 1981). "Appointments to the General Assembly". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. p. 31. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  9. Axelrod, David (January 17, 1982). "White senator slated for new black district". Chicago Tribune. p. 12 – via ProQuest.
  10. Stevko, Barbara (October 19, 1978). "Once Quiet Hegewisch Leads War Against Landfill". Chicago Tribune. p. 145. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  11. State of Illinois OFFICIAL VOTE Cast at the GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 20, 1984. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 163. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  12. Franklin, Tim (March 20, 1986). "5 Chicago Legislators Rejected". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  13. Fremon, David K. (October 22, 1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-31344-9. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
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