Peter Fitzgerald - Republican

Always full of surprises, Peter Fitzgerald announced in early 2003 that he will not seek a second term in the U.S. Senate, citing the need to spend more time with his family.

Indeed, family time is important. But equally important in the decision, one might speculate, is that much of the weight of the state's Republican Party lies against him. Party loyalists from the top of state party ranks (Rep. Dennis Hastert, Rep. Ray LaHood and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka) right down to the rank and file GOP have refused to support Fitzgerald or complained publicly that he's a loose cannon.

His democratic foes were only slightly less critical.

Love him or hate him, there is at least one undeniably brilliant moment in his senatorial career: He, against the wishes of party leaders, brought pit bull U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (no relation to Peter) to Chicago. Patrick Fitzgerald who would go on to prosecute the License for Bribes case -- which led to the indictment of former Gov. George Ryan and the conviction of one of Ryan's top aides, Scott Fawell -- the conviction of politically connected insurance executive Michael Segal, and a host of other investigations that span from below-board dealing in Chicago to high-level leaks in the White House.

Peter Fitzgerald often defied his party on a national level as well, most recently by voting against a Bush-supported measure to drill for oil in an Alaskan national park.

But perhaps Fitzgerald will be remembered most for his unrelenting opposition to expanding O'Hare airport, even after many other politicians originally opposed to the expansion changed their minds (as did DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom). It is because of Fitzgerald that the expansion project hasn't gotten off the ground.

Even in the last months of office, Fitzgerald continues to publicly spar with Republican leaders. In June of 2004, in direct opposition to Hastert, Fitzgerald used his political weight to obstruct another federal loan to United Airlines, and even called for an investigation into whether or not the company used any inappropriate political pressure to advance the deal. It's just one sign that, right up to the very end of his term, Fitzgerald is not going to back down.

For more information about Peter Fitzgerald, visit his U.S. Senate site at fitzgerald.senate.gov.

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