View source for Anthony Beale

{{Short description|American politician}}
{{for|the Canadian fur trader|Anthony Beale (fur trader)}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2009}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Anthony Beale
| image               = Beale (1).jpg
| office              = Member of the [[Chicago City Council]]<br>from the [[9th ward, Chicago|9th ward]]
| term_start          = May 3, 1999
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = Melvin Powell Sr.
| successor           = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1967|10|22}}
| birth_place         = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Dana Beale
| children            = 3
| education           = [[Blackburn College (Illinois)|Blackburn College]]
| website             = {{url|ward09.com/alderman|Official website}}
}}
'''Anthony A. Beale''' (born October 22, 1967) is an American [[politician]] and the [[alderman]] of the [[9th ward, Chicago|9th ward]] of the [[City of Chicago]], [[Illinois]] United States. Beale is noted as having been one of the youngest members to serve as elected official on the City of Chicago's City Council. Beale was first elected in 1999. In 2023 Beale was elected to his seventh term in office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Maia |date=2023-03-01 |title=Ald. Anthony Beale Continues Long Tenure In City Council, Winning South Side's 9th Ward |url=http://blockclubchicago.org/2023/02/28/anthony-beale-continues-wins-south-sides-9th-ward-aldermanic-race/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, Beale was an unsuccessful candidate in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] primary for the special election to replace [[Jesse Jackson Jr.]] as [[U.S. Congressman]] from [[Illinois' 2nd congressional district]].

==Education==
Beale attended [[Corliss High School]], graduating in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130709/pullman/corliss-high-school-share-building-with-new-charter-school |title=Corliss High School to Share Building with New Charter School - Pullman - DNAinfo.com Chicago |access-date=2013-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820084229/http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130709/pullman/corliss-high-school-share-building-with-new-charter-school |archive-date=2013-08-20 }}</ref> Beale later attended [[Blackburn College (Illinois)|Blackburn College]].<ref>[https://wgntv.com/2015/02/16/meet-the-candidates-city-council-9th-ward/ WGN 9 - Meet the candidates: City Council, 9th Ward - FEBRUARY 16, 2015]</ref>

Beale worked as a computer data analyst.<ref name="choiceof12"/> He was also a [[community activist]] under [[Jesse Jackson Jr.]] and [[James Meeks]].<ref name="reader1"/> Beale supported an effort in 1999 to adopt [[dry laws]] in some precincts of the [[9th ward, Chicago|9th ward]].<ref name="choiceof12">{{cite web |last1=Garza |first1=Melita Marie |title=Ballot in 9TH Gives Voters Choice of 12 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-02-04-9902040202-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=4 February 1999 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>

==Aldermanic career==
Beale was elected alderman for the 9th ward in 1999. He has been reelected in 2003, 2007, 2011, [[2015 Chicago aldermanic election#9th Ward|2015]], [[2019 Chicago aldermanic election#9th ward|2019]], and [[2023 Chicago aldermanic election|2023]].

In his 1999 victory, backed by Jesse Jackson Jr. and James Meeks, he defeated Herbert Shaw, the son of [[Robert Shaw (Illinois politician)|Robert Shaw]], who had vacated the 9th ward seat himself months earlier after being elected to serve on the [[Cook County Board of Review]].<ref name="earley1"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joravsky |first1=Ben |title=By Any Means Necessary |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/by-any-means-necessary/Content?oid=910204 |website=Chicago Reader |access-date=18 November 2020 |language=en |date=31 October 2002}}</ref> Beale's 1999 victory was considered an [[Upset (competition)|upset]].<ref name="earley1"/>

Beale was part of a backroom deal to bring additional [[Walmart]] locations to Chicago.<ref name="reader1">{{cite web |title=Anthony Beale, 9th Ward |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/city-council-anthony-beale-9th-ward/Content?oid=3690235 |website=Chicago Reader |access-date=18 November 2020 |language=en |date=28 April 2011}}</ref>

Beale proposed using taxpayer money to hire private security patrols for commercial districts.<ref name="reader1"/>

Beale was previously Chairman of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. As of 2011, he was a member of the following City Council Committees:{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}
*Budget & Government Operations
*Rules and Ethics
*Workforce Development & Audit
*Education & Child Development
*Finance 
*Public Safety

During his tenure as Alderman, Beale has focused on job creation and housing for seniors. Beale has helped bring in new businesses that have created over 4,000 new jobs in the Ward. Beale has also brought in more government subsidized senior housing than any previous alderman.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

In 2008 Beale spent more of his aldermanic expense account than any other alderman on public relations, with more than $16,000 paid to The Publicity Works,  a company owned by longtime Democratic political consultant Delmarie Cobb. Beale said the company handles media inquiries and puts together his ward newsletter, among other duties.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hal |last=Dardick |title=What's in Chicago aldermanic expense accounts? |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chicago-aldermen-spend-16-aug16,0,261211.story |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2009-08-15 |access-date=2009-12-21}}</ref>
In February 2012, the [[Chicago Dispatcher]] reported that [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406173351/http://chicagodispatcher.com/how-much-is-that-alderman-in-the-window-p2169-1.htm Beale attended a fundraiser] in his honor held by members of Chicago's taxicab industry just five days before legislation governing the industry was to be heard, which he and Mayor [[Rahm Emanuel]] introduced. The [[Chicago Dispatcher]] also reported that certain provisions of the legislation changed just prior to the hearing, which were favorable to taxicab operators who threw the fundraiser.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}}

In the runoff of the [[2019 Chicago mayoral election]], Beale endorsed [[Lori Lightfoot]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-mayor-race-endorsements-507305521.html |title=List of Endorsements in the Race for Chicago Mayor |date=18 March 2019 |publisher=NBC Chicago |access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>

In November 2019, Beale was one of eleven aldermen to vote against Mayor Lori Lightfoot's first budget.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spielman |first1=Fran |title=City Council approves Lightfoot's $11.6 billion budget — with 11 'no' votes |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2019/11/26/20983774/chicago-city-council-lightfoot-budget-vote |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=2 February 2020 |language=en |date=26 November 2019}}</ref>

After he tried to organize opposition to Lightfoot's choice for Finance Committee chairman, [[Scott Waguespack]], he was stripped of his own committee chairmanship.<ref name="earley1">{{cite web |last1=Earley |first1=Neal |title=Beale wins ballot battle — with just three signatures to spare |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2020/1/24/21080860/beale-ballot-battle-three-signatures-9th-ward-committeeperson |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=18 November 2020 |language=en |date=24 January 2020}}</ref> Beale became a regular critic of Lightfoot, and particularly has opposed her attempts to scale back the practice of aldermanic prerogative.<ref name="earley1"/>

==9th ward Committeeperson==
In 2000, Beale defeated Robert Shaw to become the 9th Ward's [[Committeepeople (Cook County, Illinois)|committeeman]]. Beale continues to serve as its committeeperson, having been reelected in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020.<ref name="earley1"/>

==Public Service==
Beale has taken part in various civic organizations, including the Board for Redevelopment of the Roseland area; he served as President of the 100th Street of Prairie Block Club of Roseland; and as Acting Vice President of the United Block Club of Roseland.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} Additionally, he is an active member of the Rosemoor Community Association, the 5th District Advisory Committee, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS), Roseland Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee and Salem Baptist Church.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}} Beale was a candidate in the 2013 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] primary in [[Illinois' 2nd congressional district]] to replace resigning convicted [[U.S. Congressman]] [[Jesse Jackson, Jr.]] Beale finished third with 11% of the vote behind former [[Illinois House of Representatives]] member [[Robin Kelly]] (52%) and former U.S. Representative [[Debbie Halvorson]] (25%);<ref>{{cite news |title=Kelly easily wins Democratic race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-2nd-congressional-district-jackson-20130226,0,4718425.story |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=2013-02-28 |date=2013-02-27 |first1=Rick |last1=Pearson |first2=Bill |last2=Ruthhar}}</ref> in Beale's home 9th ward, Kelly (50%) bested Beale (34%).<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]] |first=Ben |last=Joravsky |title=Reading the results of the Second District election, aldermanically                 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2013/03/01/reading-the-results-of-the-second-district-election-aldermanically |access-date=2013-03-01 |date=2013-03-01}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Beale currently lives in the Roseland neighborhood with his wife, Dana, and their three children. Beale attends and serves as a member of Salem Baptist Church.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}

===Whitney Young High School incident===
On August 24, 2009, Beale became the second alderman to concede his daughter had gained admission to [[Whitney M. Young Magnet High School]], an elite magnet school, after he contacted principal [[Joyce D. Kenner|Joyce Kenner]], with whom he had a "personal relationship."<ref>{{cite news |first1=Rosalind |last1=Rossi |first2=Fran |last2=Spielman |title=Feds subpoena Chicago Public School principal; Aldermen asked Whitney Young's Kenner to get their kids in |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1733015,CST-NWS-clout25.article |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=2009-08-25 |access-date=2009-08-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828150157/http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1733015,CST-NWS-clout25.article |archive-date=2009-08-28 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/The-Teenage-Face-of-Chicago-School-Scandal-54989762.html NBC 5 Chicago - The Teenage Face of Chicago School Scandal (She was denied admission despite straight-A grades) - Steve Rhodes (Aug 26, 2009)]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Anthony Beale}}
*[http://bealeforcongress.com/ Beale for Congress website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061210063658/http://www.ward09.com/site/epage/5093_292.htm Citizens to Elect Anthony A. Beale website]
*[https://archive.today/20110618181228/http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@2068979607.1149006976@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddhkmfejmicefecelldffhdfgm.0&entityName=Ward9&entityNameEnumValue=54 City of Chicago]
*[http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/anthony-beale-PEPLT007975.topic Anthony Beale] archive at the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
*[http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ArticleArchives?tag=Anthony%20Beale Anthony Beale] archive at the ''[[Chicago Reader]]''

{{Chicago City Council}}
{{Cook county democratic committeemen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beale, Anthony}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Illinois politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:African-American city council members in Illinois]]
[[Category:Chicago City Council members]]
[[Category:Illinois Democrats]]
[[Category:Living people]]