Neil Hartigan

Hartigan grew up in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, in an Irish Catholic family. His father, David L. Hartigan, was involved in local Democratic politics. He worked for the city and went on to be appointed City Treasurer of Chicago by Mayor Martin H. Kennelly.[1] David Hartigan was also twice elected Alderman of the 49th Ward, later dying in office.[2]

The younger Hartigan graduated from Loyola Academy and attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he befriended future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.[3] Hartigan graduated from Georgetown with a bachelor's degree.[4] He later received a juris doctor degree from Loyola University College of Law in 1966.[5]

Upon the completion of law school, Hartigan worked for the City of Chicago as an administrative assistant to Mayor Richard J. Daley. He was eventually made liquor commissioner by Daley, becoming in charge of the city’s liquor licensing.[6] Hartigan later served as deputy mayor under Daley. He also managed the mayor’s successful reelection campaigns in 1967 and 1971.[1] Following Daley's health struggles and subsequent death in 1976, Hartigan was floated as a possible successor.[7]

Hartigan also was the City of Chicago's legislative counsel in Springfield, the state's capital. In addition, he worked as the attorney for the Chicago Board of Health and the general counsel for the Chicago Park District.

In his first race for political office, Hartigan was elected the Democratic Committeeman for Chicago's 49th ward in 1968. He held the position for about 12 years, stepping down in 1980. Hartigan, working under Daley, also helped with 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which he was a delegate to.[1]

In 1971, then-lieutenant governor Paul Simon asked Hartigan to be his running mate in the next year's gubernatorial election.[2] During the Democratic primary election, Hartigan won the lieutenant governor nomination, but Simon lost in an upset to political outsider Dan Walker.[2] Hartigan and Walker were elected on the same ticket in the 1972 general election, defeating the incumbent Republican governor Richard B. Ogilvie and his running mate Jim Nowlan.

At the time of his inauguration, Hartigan was the youngest lieutenant governor in the nation. Time magazine also named Hartigan in 1973 as one of the future 200 leaders of the country.[2] One of Hartigan's most notable accomplishments as lieutenant governor was establishing a statewide Department of Aging, which was made to run Illinois's government programs for the elderly.[2]

He ran for reelection as lieutenant governor in the 1976 Illinois gubernatorial election. Governor Walker lost the primary to Secretary of State Michael Howlett. Hartigan easily won renomination, but the Democratic team of Howlett and Hartigan lost handily in the general election.

Following his defeat, he left public life and worked as a banker for 5 years. Hartigan returned to politics to run successfully for Attorney General of Illinois in the 1982 election. As attorney general, Hartigan focused on consumer protection and stricter controls on hazardous waste. While in office, he served as chairman of the National Association of Attorneys General's consumer protection committee.[8] Hartigan was reelected in 1986.

Hartigan briefly sought the governorship in 1986, but dropped out when former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III entered the Democratic primary.

Hartigan also was a speaker at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, addressing the convention on its third day.

Hartigan was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1990. He lost in a close contest against Secertary of State Jim Edgar. Some observers attributed his narrow loss to his slight underperformance in Chicago.[9]

In 1995, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Hartigan was planning on running the for the U.S. Senate in 1996.[10] He was also reportedly being urged to run by both party leaders and the Clinton Administration. After mulling over a bid with his advisers, including David Axelrod, Hartigan eventually decided against running for the seat.[11][12]

Later, Hartigan announced his intent to run for governor again in the 1998 election. Despite having remained a popular and well-known figure in Illinois Democratic politics, Hartigan reversed his decision and chose not to run, signaling the end of his political career.[13]

After leaving public office, Hartigan served as Chairman of World Trade Center Illinois.[14] He also worked for a Chicago-based law firm. In 2002, he won election to the Illinois Appellate Court from the First District, which covers Cook County.[15][16] After two years, Hartigan chose to retire voluntarily from the bench. Retiring on June 1, 2004, he was succeeded by P. Scott Neville Jr.[17]

During the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Hartigan endorsed Hillary Clinton over Illinois Senator Barack Obama. He served on Clinton’s “Rapid Response” team for the February 5 primary.[18]

On March 22, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Hartigan to the Illinois Court of Claims. He served as a justice on the court from May 2, 2013 until January 21, 2019.[19]

• 1973–1974 Illinois Blue Book
• 1975–1976 Illinois Blue Book p36