Posted: December 20, 2002

First Gay Gains Seat On Chicago Council

Chicago, Illinois-A restaurant owner Thursday became the first gay to serve on the Chicago City Council. Tom Tunney, 47, was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to represent the 44th Ward. The seat became available after the recent resignation of Ald. Bernard Hansen for health reasons.

"This is a realization of a life-long dream," Tunney said at a City Hall news conference.

Tunney's nomination still must be confirmed by the City Council, but the council almost never opposes the mayor.

Daley said Tunney is "much more than a restaurant owner. He is a dedicated community leader, who has turned his restaurant into an anchor of the community."

The 44th Ward, on Chicago's North Side encompasses the area known for its gay nightclubs and for Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs.

"My personality is I'm openly gay, I'm comfortable with who I am, I'm comfortable with representing a very diverse community and I'm a hard worker," said Tunney, who has been inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

Tunney now has the advantage of incumbency. He will face another openly gay candidate, Rick Ingram, and five other people in a February election for alderman. If none of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off election would be held.