Alice Palmer (Illinois politician)

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Alice J. Palmer
Member of the Illinois State Senate
from the 13th district
In office
June 6, 1991 – January 8, 1997
Preceded by Richard Newhouse
Succeeded by Barack Obama
Born June 20, 1939 (1939-06-20) (age 68)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Political party Democratic

Alice J. Palmer (born June 20, 1939 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a former Democratic State Senator from Illinois, representing the state's 13th District.[1] Dr. Palmer was the founding executive director of Chicago Cities in Schools and creator and founding director of the Chicago Metropolitan YMCA Youth and Government Program.

In 1994 Mel Reynolds, member of U.S. House of Representatives for Illinois's 2nd congressional district, was indicted for a sexual relationship with an underage campaign volunteer. Palmer filed for the Democratic nomination to his seat but was defeated in a special election held November 1995 by Jesse Jackson, Jr. She had, with a degree of formality that is disputed, anointed Barack Obama as her chosen successor in the State Senate. [2] Before filing for the Democratic nomination for the state Senate, Obama asked whether Palmer wanted to keep her options open and file to run for her state Senate seat in case her congressional bid failed. Obama has also claimed that he had warned Palmer that he would not back down after substantial investments were made to his state Senate bid and that Palmer had given him repeated assurances she was not going to run for state Senate. Nevertheless, after her defeat to Jackson Jr. Palmer filed to retain the Democratic nomination for the state Senate seat. [3][4]

Obama was able, however, to successfully challenge enough signatures to disqualify not only the incumbent but the other three candidates for the Democratic nomination as well, which he won unopposed. [5] [6][7]

During the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries, Palmer endorsed Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for President.[8]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Alice Palmer Biography. The HistoryMakers (August 9, 2000). Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
  2. ^ How Obama Operated As A State Legislator.
  3. ^ David Jackson; Ray Long. "Showing his bare knuckles", Chicago Tribune, April 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  4. ^ David Jackson; Ray Long. "Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot", Chicago Tribune, April 3, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  5. ^ How Obama Operated As A State Legislator.
  6. ^ David Jackson; Ray Long. "Showing his bare knuckles", Chicago Tribune, April 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  7. ^ David Jackson; Ray Long. "Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot", Chicago Tribune, April 3, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  8. ^ Christi Parsons, Once Obama's mentor, Alice Palmer now campaigns for Clinton LA Times, April 26, 2008
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Political offices
Preceded by
Richard Newhouse		 Illinois State Senator from 13th district
June 6, 1991 - January 8, 1997		 Succeeded by
Barack Obama