Herb Schumann Explained

Herbert T. Schumann, Jr.
Office:Cook County Commissioner from the 17th district
Term Start:December 1994
Term End:December 2002
Predecessor:Constituency established
Successor:Liz Gorman
Office1:Cook County Commissioner from suburban Cook County
Term Start1:1990
Term End1:December 1994
Predecessor1:Harold Tyrrell
Successor1:constituency abolished
Party:Republican
Spouse:Colleen
Children:2
Birth Date:1951 or 1952
Alma Mater:Governors State University (B.A.)
DePaul University (MBA)

Herbert T. Schumann, Jr. is an American politician who formerly served as a Cook County commissioner from 1990 to 2002.

Early life and education

Schumann was born in either 1951 or 1952.

Shumann's father, Herb Schumann Sr., was one of the incorporators of Palos Hills, Illinois and was, for 18 years until his 1990 death, a Palos Township supervisor.[1]

Schumann earned a Bachelor of Arts from Governors State University. Schumann then earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from DePaul University.

Career

From 1974 to 1977, Schumann served as a trustee of Moraine Valley Community College.[2]

In 1982, Schumann ran unsuccessfully for the Cook County Board of Commissioners.[3]

From 1986 through 2002, he served as Palos Township Republican committeeman chairing the Palos Township Republican Organization, and having been elected in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998.[2]

In 1992, he was the Republican nominee for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, losing the election to Democrat Aurelia Pucinski.

He served for a time as the Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.[4]

Cook County Board of Commissioners

From 1990 through 2002, Shumann served as Cook County commissioner.[2] He was appointed in 1990 as a member from suburban Cook County, filling the vacancy left by the death in office of Harold Tyrrell.[5] [6] He was reelected in 1990. In 1994, when the board switched to single-member districts, he was elected to represent the 17th district. He was subsequently reelected in 1998. In 2002 he lost reelection in the Republican primary to Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman. During his campaign against Gorman, he had criticized her connections with Edward Vrdolyak, while she criticized him for "voting with" board president John Stroger.[7] [8]

In 1991, he and president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Richard Phelan proposed a plan to levy a tax on non-hazardous solid waste accepted by landfill operators.[9]

In 1992, he and three other Republican suburban Cook County commissioners filed a lawsuit to stop board president Richard Phelan's executive order to allow elective abortions at county hospitals.[10]

He and Maria Pappas were the only two members to vote against the districting map adopted when the Board of Commissioners switched to single-member districts in 1994.[11]

During part of his tenure, he chaired the board's environment committee.[12]

Ahead of the 1993 township elections in Palos Township, he partnered with some Democrats to form the Palos Township Independent Party. The party would, in the following years, see success in township elections.[13]

During part of his tenure on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, he served as a member of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission appointed by the County Board. This included serving as the commission's president.[14]

Later career

After losing his seat, he began working many years as a finance director under president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners John Stroger and his successors Bobbie L. Steele and Todd Stroger.[15]

Schumann worked as a property tax analyst employed by the Cook County Board of Review.[2]

Schumann served on the Palos Lions Cal Sag Watershed Council.[2]

In 2014, Schumann ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board.[2]

In 2016, Schumann ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for the seat on the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board vacated when Patrick Daley Thompson resigned to assume office as a Chicago alderman. The seat had been filled with an interim appointment by Governor Bruce Rauner of Republican David J. Walsh, however Walsh did not seek reelection and Schumann had won the Republican nomination unopposed.[16] [17] [18] [19] He received the endorsements of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune in the general election.[20] [21]

Personal life

Schumann and his wife Colleen have a son named Lucas and daughter named Mackenzi.[2] When he first joined the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1990, he resided in Palos Hills, Illinois.[5], he lived in Palos Heights, Illinois.[2]

Schumann's wife Colleen Schumann has served as a Palos Township supervisor since 2005.[22] [23]

Electoral history

Cook County Board of Commissioners

1982
1990
1994
1998
2002

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

1992

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board

2014
2016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HERBERT T. SCHUMANN SR. . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 13 May 2021 . 21 November 1990.
  2. Web site: Herb Schumann: Candidate Profile . Daily Herald . 21 November 2020 . 2 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Locin . Mitchell . Crusader shoots for election to tax board . Newspapers.com . Chicago Tribune . 24 May 2021 . en . subscription . 25 Feb 1982.
  4. Davis. Jennifer. People: Appointments. Illinois Issues. 24. 5. University of Illinois at Springfield. 0738-9663. February 19, 2022.
  5. Web site: Galica . Larry . Familiar faces return to Cook County Board . nwitimes.com . The Times of Northwest Indiana . 21 November 2020 . en . 8 November 1990.
  6. Web site: CHOICES FOR COOK COUNTY BOARD . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 21 November 2020 . 30 October 1990.
  7. Web site: Nolan . Mike . Gorman announces intentions to resign from Cook County board . dailypress.com . 21 November 2020 . 15 July 2015.
  8. Web site: Stewart . Russ . Political Analyst - Article May 4, 2005 . www.russstewart.com . Russ Stewart . 21 November 2020 . 4 May 2005.
  9. Web site: Galica . Larry . County considers landfill tax . nwitimes.com . The Times of Northwest Indiana . 21 November 2020 . en . 8 September 1991.
  10. Web site: GALICA . LARRY . 1992: The year in review. 1992 was a challenge . nwitimes.com . The Times of Northwest Indiana . 21 November 2020 . en . 3 January 1993.
  11. Web site: Fremon . David . In the Realm of Herb . Chicago Reader . 21 November 2020 . en . 4 November 1993.
  12. Web site: Husar . John . STROGER IN THE WOODS ABOUT FOREST PRESERVES . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 21 November 2020 . 9 January 1997.
  13. Web site: Bregin slate winners in Palos Township . Newspapers.com . Southtown Star . APC News Service . 13 May 2021 . en . subscription . 3 Apr 1997.
  14. Web site: MODEL STREAM AND WETLAND ORDINANCE FOR THE CREATION OF A LOWLAND CONSERVANCY OVERLAY DISTRICT . Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission . 21 November 2020 . October 1999.
  15. Web site: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE . legacy.cookcountyil.gov . Government of Cook County . 21 November 2020 . 6 May 2009.
  16. Web site: Board . Editorial . Tribune endorsements for Cook County and MWRD races . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 16 March 2020 . 12 October 2016.
  17. Web site: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago . mwrd.org . Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago . 16 March 2020 . 16 October 2015.
  18. Web site: Arriaga . Alexandra . Plot thickens in sewage treatment race: Rauner pick could trigger court fight . Chicago Sun-Times . 16 March 2020 . en . 29 March 2018.
  19. Web site: Herb Schumann . Ballotpedia . 21 November 2020 . en.
  20. Web site: 4 candidates who could give MWRD a greener look . Chicago Sun-Times . 21 November 2020 . en . 20 October 2016.
  21. Web site: Tribune endorsements for Cook County and MWRD races . chicagotribune.com . Chicago Tribune . 21 November 2020 . 12 October 2016.
  22. News: McQueary . Kristin . Forest preserve district adds new 'boss' . Daily Southtown . 5 December 2004.
  23. Web site: Supervisor Schumann . Welcome to PALOS TOWNSHIP, ILLINOIS . 21 November 2020 . en.