Daniel M. Pierce

Daniel Marshall Pierce (March 31, 1928 – February 13, 2020) was an American lawyer and politician from Illinois. He served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, as Mayor of Highland Park, Illinois, and as a trustee on the North Shore Water Reclamation District.

Daniel Pierce
Mayor of Highland Park, Illinois
In office 1999–2003
Preceded by	Raymond Geraci
Succeeded by	Michael Belsky
In office 1987 – April 24, 1995
Preceded by	???
Succeeded by	Raymond Geraci
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 58th district
In office 1983–1985
Preceded by	???
Succeeded by	Grace Mary Stern
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 32nd district
In office 1967–1983
Preceded by	???
Succeeded by	???
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives At-large
In office 1965–1967
Preceded by	At-large district created
Succeeded by	At large district dissolved
Personal details
Born	Daniel Marshall Pierce (1928-03-31)March 31, 1928 Chicago, Illinois
Died	February 13, 2020(2020-02-13) (aged 91) Highland Park, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Rhoda
Residence	Highland Park, Illinois
Alma mater	Harvard College (B.A.) Harvard Law School (J.D.)
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Unit	Judge Advocate General's Corps

Early life

Pierce was born March 31, 1928 in Chicago. His family moved to the North Shore where he graduated from New Trier High School. He earned degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He served in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps during the Korean War. While in the Air Force, he attended the United States Air Force Command & Staff School. He then took a position with Altheimer, Gray, Naiburg, Strasburger & Lawton where he would remain for the remainder of his legal career.[1][2]

Illinois House of Representatives

In an unusual election, Pierce ran on a statewide ballot after the Illinois Supreme Court ordered an at large election for all 177 members of the Illinois House; the result of partisan gridlock preventing the completion of the decennial reapportionment process.[3]

After a 1965 Illinois Supreme Court Case to resolve the redistricting issue, Pierce's Highland Park home was drawn into the 32nd district which consisted of Algonquin, Dorr, Grafton, and Nunda townships in McHenry County and Cuba, Deerfield, Ela, Fremont, Libertyville, Shields, Vernon, Wauconda and West Deerfield townships in Lake County. He was reelected as one of the district's three representatives.[4]

During his tenure, he was a member of the Democratic Study Group, a caucus of independent, liberal Democrats. His role in this organization earned him a nominal spot on the leadership team of then-Minority Leader Clyde L. Choate.[5] Pierce served as a delegate for Edmund Muskie in the 1972 Democratic presidential primary.[5] He was in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment.[6] He served as Chairman of the House Revenue Committee, the Mental Health Investigating Committee, the Energy and Environment Committee, the Illinois Economic Fiscal Commission, and the Energy Resources Commission He served on the House Public Utilities Committee and as House Minority Whip for two terms.[2]

Pierce explored running for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Attorney General in the 1982 primary, but stepped aside after failing to be slated by the Cook County Democratic Party in favor of Neil Hartigan. Hartigan would go on to beat incumbent Tyrone C. Fahner.[7] In 1983, rather than run for an eleventh term, Pierce chose to retire. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat and former Lake County Clerk Grace Mary Stern.[8]

Mayor of Highland Park

Pierce was elected Mayor of Highland Park in 1987 and reelected in 1991. In 1995, he was defeated for a third term by Trustee Raymond Geraci. He defeated Geraci in the 1999 election and served a final term from 1999 to 2003.[9][2]

Other political activities

Pierce was later the President of the North Shore Water Reclamation District, a position he served in for over a decade.[10] Pierce was also a member of the Central Committee for the Democratic Party of Illinois from Illinois's 10th congressional district. He served on the central committee at various times starting no later than the 1960s, when he was the central committeeman from what was then Illinois's 12th congressional district.[1]

Death

Pierce died on February 13, 2020.[11][12]

References

1. Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. 1968. p. 255. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
2. "Full Text of House Resolution 0273 93rd General Assembly". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. May 9, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
3. Devine, Michael J. (2005). "State Politics". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Historical Society.
4. "Representative Reapportionment: Legal Descriptions for Cook County Representative Districts Other Than Cook County". Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 255 & 327.
5. Barber, Charles M. (April 4, 2016). Judge Aaron Jaffe: Reforming Illinois: A Progressive Tackles State Government. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
6. "Downstate candidates for Illinois House". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. October 1978. p. 11.
7. Kieckhefer, Robert (January 1982). "Is slate making passe?". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
8. "Glencoe man chosen to challenge Stern". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. December 12, 1985. Retrieved July 24, 2017.(subscription required)
9. Kuczka, Susan (April 28, 1995). "Highland Park Has A Friend In Ex-mayor". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
10. "Pierce remains leader at North Shore Sanitary District". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. December 30, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
11. Miller, Rich (February 14, 2020). "Reader comments closed for the holiday weekend". Capitol Fax. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
12. "Daniel M. Pierce". Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication. Legacy.com. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.