Lee A. Daniels

Lee Albert Daniels (born April 15, 1942) is an American retired politician who served as the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1995 to 1997, and as the Minority Leader from 1997 to 2003. A member of the a Republican Party, Daniels served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 2007, representing the 40th district from 1975 to 1983, and the 46th district from 1983 to 2007. Daniels also Chaired the Illinois Republican Party from 2001 until his resignation in 2002, and served as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures from 1989 to 1990.

Lee Daniels
Daniels in 1987
Chair of the Illinois Republican Party
In office
2001 – July 2002
Preceded byRichard S. Williamson
Succeeded byGary MacDougal
Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 1997 (January 8, 1997) – January 8, 2003 (January 8, 2003)
Preceded byMichael Madigan
Succeeded byTom Cross
In office
January 5, 1983 (January 5, 1983) – January 11, 1995 (January 11, 1995)
Preceded byMichael Madigan
Succeeded byMichael Madigan
68th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1995 (January 11, 1995) – January 8, 1997 (January 8, 1997)
Preceded byMichael Madigan
Succeeded byMichael Madigan
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 46th district
In office
January 1983 (January 1983) – January 2007 (January 2007)
Preceded byDistrict Created
Succeeded byDennis Reboletti
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 40th district
In office
January 1975 (January 1975) – January 1983 (January 1983)
Serving with
Gene L. Hoffman (R) (1975-1983)
Bill Redmond (D) (1975-1981)
Hubert J. Loftus (D) (1981-1983)
Preceded byPate Philip[1]
Succeeded byDistrict Abolished
Personal details
Born
Lee Albert Daniels

(1942-04-15) April 15, 1942
Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePamela Daniels
Children5
ResidenceElmhurst, Illinois
Alma materJohn Marshall Law School
University of Iowa
ProfessionAttorney
WebsiteOfficial website

Daniels first contested in the 1974 elections after winning the primary in March, and was elected as one of the three representatives for the 40th district. He would serve until 1983, when his district was abolished as part of the Cutback Amendment. He ran to represent the 46th district as it's sole representative, winning in the 1982 general election. In 1994, the Republicans secured a government trifecta after regaining control of the House. Daniels was subsequently elected Speaker, serving until 1997. After the 1996 elections, Democrats again regained the House, and Daniels stepped down as Speaker. Daniels continued to lead the Republicans in the House, serving as Minority Leader until 2003. Although he resigned as Chair of the Illinois GOP in July 2022, Daniels led his party through the 2002 elections, in which the Republican Party lost 4 seats. Daniels subsequently resigned as Minority Leader, being succeeded by Tom Cross.

Daniels contested in the 2004 elections and won his seat, but ultimately declined to run in 2006; he was succeeded by Republican Dennis Reboletti. After retiring from politics, Daniels has been chairman of the board of directors of Haymarket Center, a nonprofit drug treatment center based primarily in Chicago, since 2014. He also has been involved in academics; "Daniels Hall" of Elmhurst University was named after him.

Early life

Lee Daniels was born April 15, 1942, in Lansing, Michigan, while his parents were university students. His grandfather was Lee E. Daniels, a Republican politician who served as the State's Attorney for DuPage County and as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.[2]

Daniels was raised in Elmhurst, Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and earned a law degree from John Marshall Law School.

Daniels served for six and a half years on the York Township Board of Auditors.[3]

Daniels became authorized to practice law in November 1967.[2] In 1971, William J. Scott appointed Daniels a Special Assistant Attorney General. Daniels would serve in the position until 1974. In his position with Scott's office, Daniels headed the investigation into and civil litigation against Equity Funding.[4] He worked at the firm of Daniels & Faris from 1967 to 1982 and was an equity partner Katten Muchin & Zavis from 1982 to 1981. He retired in 2006 from the Chicago law firm of Bell Boyd & Lloyd, where he was an equity partner.

Illinois House of Representatives

Daniels was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1974 general election with Republican incumbent Gene L. Hoffman and Democratic incumbent William A. Redmond as one of three members from the 40th district. That same election, the Democratic Party won control of the Illinois House of Representatives. At the start of the 79th General Assembly, the Democratic caucus was fractured between various legislators for the position of Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Over a week after the election for Speaker began; Daniels crossed party lines on the 89th ballot to vote for his fellow 40th district legislator William A. Redmond, now the Democratic compromise choice, against Democratic holdout Clyde Choate and Republican leader James R. Washburn. After Daniels vote, a weekend recess was called. On Monday, Daniels and a small group of Republicans, including Daniels, cast their votes for Redmond.[5][6]

Daniels served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 2007. After the Cutback Amendment abolished multi-member districts and cumulative voting, Daniels ran against Democrat and fellow 40th district incumbent Bud Loftus. Daniels defeated Loftus in the heavily Republican 46th district.[7][8] Daniels rose through the Republican ranks serving as the Majority Whip during the 82nd General Assembly before becoming the leader of the House Republican Caucus during the 83rd General Assembly.[3] He served as the Republican leader from 1983 to 2003. He was Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1997. From 1989-1990 he was the President of the National Conference of State Legislatures.[9]

Post-legislative career

Daniels serves as a member (2010–present) and chairman (2014-present) of the board of directors of Haymarket Center, a nonprofit drug and alcohol treatment center in Chicago. He recently served as chairman of the College of DuPage Presidential Search Committee (2015-2016). He previously served on the Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare board of trustees, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare board of governors, and the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation board. Other boards Daniels has served on include Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust, Inc., the Suburban Bank and Trust Company of Elmhurst board of directors, Elmhurst Federal Savings and Loan Association board of directors, and the DuPage Easter Seals board of directors.

He has received numerous honors, including an honorary Doctorate of Law from Elmhurst College, where he serves as a distinguished fellow. In 2008 Elmhurst College renamed its Computer Science and Technology Center "Daniels Hall."

On September 27, 2011, Senate President John Cullerton appointed Daniels to a two-year term as a public member on the Illinois Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency.[10] The sixty member council advises the executive branch on ways to encourage public understanding and support of department programs; proposed rules and licensure; and formulation and implementation of the comprehensive state plan for intervention, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism and other drug abuse and dependency.[11]

Daniels is married to Pamela Daniels. They have 5 children and live in Elmhurst, Illinois.[12]

References
  1. "Lee Daniels: The 'little guy' of the leaders".
  2. Daniels, Lee (November 3, 2011). "Interview with Lee Daniels# ISL-A-L-2011-053.01" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by DePue, Mark. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. Tipton Jr., Virgil E. (ed.). "83rd General Assembly: Some Of The Key Members Serving You". Illinois Parks and Recreation. Illinois Association of Park Districts. 14 (2): 26. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. Howlett, Michael (ed.). Illinois Blue Book 1975-1976. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 150. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  5. Mehler, Neil; Elmer, John (January 26, 1975). "Fought hard for Redmond the Speaker fight is a victory for reform". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois.
  6. Adkins, Gary (April 1975). "Compromise and crossover in Redmond election". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. 4: 108. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  7. Reardon, Patrick (October 21, 1982). "Veterans vie for House seat in new district". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois.
  8. Gherandini, Caroline (ed.). "The House: District issues and loss of fed funds". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. 8 (8): 35. ISSN 0738-9663.
  9. "NCSL Current and Past Presidents, 1975-2021" (PDF). NCSL. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  10. Wolff, Jonathan P., ed. (October 31, 2018). "00586 Civil Service Commission" (PDF). Expiration and Vacancy Report for the Governor of Illinois. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 16. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  11. Gruber, Amanda (August 1, 2018). "Publication 425: State Board and Commission Descriptions" (PDF). Expiration and Vacancy Report for the Governor of Illinois. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 22. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. "Lee Daniels Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
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