Frank Aguilar Explained

Frank Aguilar
Office:Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
from the 16th district
Term Start:April 20, 2020
Predecessor:Jeff Tobolski
State House1:Illinois
District1:24th
Term Start1:January 2003
Term End1:January 2005
Predecessor1:Donne Trotter (redistricted)
Successor1:Michelle Chavez
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Party:Republican (before 2020)
Democratic (2020–present)
Education:

Frank J. Aguilar is a politician currently serving as the member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 16th district. Currently Democrat, he previously was a member of the Republican Party, under which he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 24th district from 2002 to 2004.

Career

Aguilar served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 24th district from 2002 to 2004, becoming the only Hispanic American of his party in the General Assembly. Aguilar was defeated in 2004 by Democrat Michelle Chavez in a race that was thought to be non-competitive.[1] It has been alleged that Aguilar had originally asked Chavez, a friend, to run for his office as a "ghost candidate," so that he would have an easy reelection race.[2] Chavez unexpectedly beat Aguilar in the general election.

Aguilar later served as an elected member of the Morton College Board of Trustees.

On April 16, 2020, now a Democrat, he was appointed to the Cook County Board of Commissioners to succeed Jeff Tobolski.[3] [4]

Personal life

His brother, John Aguilar, is also active in Republican politics in the northern Illinois area, and has served as a Township Trustee in Aurora Township, Illinois.

Electoral history

Notes and References

  1. News: Spooky campaign tricks. 12 November 2014. . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701040715/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-01/news/0411010210_1_ghost-candidate-democratic-spooky . 2016-07-01 . November 1, 2004.
  2. News: Alleged 'Ghost Candidate' Wins In Cicero . . November 4, 2004 . June 1, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060727181254/http://www.nbc5.com/news/3888021/detail.html . July 27, 2006 .
  3. News: Hinton. Rachel. Mystery shrouds closed-door vote on Tobolski successor. April 16, 2020. Chicago Sun-Times. April 17, 2020.
  4. Web site: Hinton . Rachel . Swearing-in of Tobolski's County Board successor held behind closed doors – like his selection . Chicago Sun-Times . 25 June 2020 . en . 20 April 2020.