Bill Conway (politician)

William Elias "Bill" Conway III[1] (born May 8, 1978)[2] is an American politician, attorney, businessman, and military veteran.[3] He is the alderman for the 34th ward in the Chicago City Council, having won the 2023 election for the office.[4][5][6]

Bill Conway
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 34th ward
Assumed office
May 15, 2023
Preceded byCarrie Austin
Personal details
Born
William Elias Conway III

(1978-05-08) May 8, 1978
Chicago, Illinois, U.S
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesWilliam E. Conway Jr. (father)
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BS)
Georgetown University (JD)
University of Chicago (MBA)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy

Conway previously served as an assistant state's attorney for Cook County, Illinois and currently serves as adjunct professor at DePaul University. He unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Party's primary for Cook County state’s attorney in 2020.

Early life and education

William Conway was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois,[2] the son of Joanne Boosalis Conway and William E. Conway Jr., an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist.[1] He attended the Latin School of Chicago,[7] a private school in the Gold Coast neighborhood on the Near North Side.[1] Conway entered The Wharton School, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting in 2000.[8] He received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2006.[8][9] Conway then graduated from the University of Chicago with an MBA degree in 2013.[8][9][10]

Early career

From 2006 to 2012, Conway served as Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County State's Attorney's Officer under Richard A. Devine and Anita Alvarez,[11] working on embezzlement cases in the public corruption office.[10][12] The DePaulia notes that during his tenure "Conway prosecuted high level corruption and financial crime cases, including the police officers who embezzled one million dollars from the Chicago Sergeants Union in 2012."[13][14]

Conway served for 5 years as Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy and Air Force Central Command and Senior Intelligence Director in the U.S. European Command in 2017-2021.[10][9][15] During his military career, he received an Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.[9] Conway continues to serve in the U.S. Navy at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.[9]

In July 2013, he joined the Investment Banking/ Diversified Industries Division of J.P. Morgan in Chicago as an investment banker managing portfolios of large manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company and General Motors.[11] Conway left the company in 2016.[10]

Since 2016, Conway has been serving as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Finance & Real Estate of DePaul University, teaching various courses on Finance and Real Estate.[8] He also works as a venture partner and manager on several investments funds including Hyde Park Angels, Boos Brothers Investments, Luxe Bloom, LLC., Raputs, LLC. and Green Street Renewables, LLC.[8][16]

Political career

2020 election for Cook County State's Attorney
Further information: 2020 Cook County, Illinois, elections § Cook County State's Attorney

In 2020, Conway ran for the Cook County State's Attorney office in Illinois, where he took 2nd place with 31% of the vote in the Democratic primary but lost to the incumbent Kim Foxx (50.19% of the vote) on March 17, 2020.[4] Kim Foxx ultimately won the general election by defeating Republican Pat O'Brien.[4] Various sources note that Conway's campaign was mostly sponsored by his father William E. Conway Jr with over $10 million,[17][7][11] while Kim Foxx's campaign was supported large donations from Michael Sacks, Fred Eychaner, SEIU, Chicago Federation of Labor, EMILY's List, and George Soros.[1][18][19][20] According to The Chicago Reporter, "the Cook County state’s attorney’s race has already become the most expensive in Cook County history, with candidates raising almost $16 million combined, which is more than double that of the 2016 primary."[18]

2023 election for Chicago City Council
Further information: 2023 Chicago aldermanic election § Ward 34

In 2023, Conway was elected as an alderman on the Chicago City Council.[4][5] During his election campaign, Conway addressed the crime situation in Chicago and pledged to allocate additional funds for security, suggesting an increase in the number of police officers and equipment to address crime in the city.[3] Conway won the election with approximately 2/3 of the vote.[21] Candidate Jim Ascot, who conceded the race, received about 33% of the votes[3][22] Some sources have reported that Conway may be considering a run in the upcoming Chicago mayoral election.[23][24]

Personal life

He is married to Brittany Conway. They have a daughter, Bella.[25]

References
  1. Heinzmann, David; Hinkel, Dan (2020-03-10). "Bill Conway's billionaire father is bankrolling his state's attorney bid. His fortune came from a firm that invested in weapons manufacturers and nursing homes accused of neglecting patients". Chicago Tribune.
  2. "2020 Voter Guide: Bill Conway for the Cook County State Attorney". WTTW News.
  3. "Former prosecutor Bill Conway wins aldermanic race in newly drawn Fulton Market, West Loop ward". Chicago Sun-Times. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  4. "Bill Conway". BallotPedia.
  5. Kapos, Shia (3 August 2022). "New way for Bill Conway". Politico. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  6. Pratt, Gregory. "Chicago mayor's race 2023 lineup: Who is in and who is out". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  7. Misra, Kiran (2020-03-10). "Conway's Millions". South Side Weekly.
  8. "William Conway". Driehaus College of Business & Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
  9. Bowean, Lolly (2020-02-28). "Who is Bill Conway?". Chicago Tribune.
  10. Schmitt, Eric (2018-01-14). "He Studied Accounting. Now He Hunts the Taliban". The New York Times.
  11. Brown, Mark (2019-06-25). "Unknown former prosecutor with deep pockets eyes campaign against Foxx". Chicago Sun Times.
  12. Hussein, Rummana (2012-06-06). "Former Chicago Sgt. sentenced in $1.1M union embezzlement case". Chicago Sun Times.
  13. Kaufman, Joshua (2020-02-09). "State's Attorney candidate Bill Conway talks wealth, corruption and his game plan". The DePaulia.
  14. "Cop Who Stole From Union Gets 12 Years". CBS news. 2012-06-05.
  15. Ann Ahern, Mary (2019-11-27). "Bill Conway Explains Service Record, Being 'Fired Upon' in Afghanistan". 5Chicago.
  16. "Chicago-Based Innovative Floral Company is Transforming the Luxury Hospitality Floral Market". Health Care Facilities Today.
  17. "Friends of Bill Conway Candidate Committee (inactive)". Reform for Illinois' Sunshine Database.
  18. McGhee, Josh; Eads, David (2020-03-13). "Bill Conway gives Kim Foxx a run for her money in most expensive Cook County state's attorney's race". The Chicago Reporter.
  19. Bowean, Lolly (2020-01-10). "Democratic state's attorney challenger Bill Conway gets another $2.35 million from his wealthy father, records show". Chicago Tribune.
  20. "Friends for Foxx". Illinois Sunshine. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  21. Soglin, Talia (March 2023). "34th Ward race: Billionaire's son emerges as winner, set on addressing crime and development". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  22. Ong, Eli (1 March 2023). "Chicago Election Day Wrap-Up: The races that have been decided heading into Wednesday". WGN-TV. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  23. "Kim Foxx may be out in 2024, but Lightfoot's first". Nadig Newspapers - Northwest Side Local Newspapers. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  24. Spielman, Fran (21 April 2022). "Former state's attorney candidate says business, union leaders fed up with Lightfoot, urging him to run for mayor — and he's listening". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  25. Hinton, Rachel (2020-03-10). "Corned beef and campaigns is the special at Manny's, South Loop deli where sometimes it's not just lunch". Chicago Sun Times.
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