The List

Are you guys serious ? Not a single alderman, ward committeeman, state rep or state senator on the list ? Don't you have a clue as to how Chicago really works ? Kissing up to Rahm, who is in fact far from the most powerful man in Chicago, along with butt-kissing kudo to Derrick Rose, a great ball player, but who couldn't get a ticket fixed to save his life ....

What a stupid, popularity contest of a list. Vince Vaughn ? Seriously ? Vince Freaking Vaughn ?

At least it's hilarious.

The mayor as #1 seems totally appropriate as do most of your choices from the political, business, sports, and entertainment spheres. Two individuals you missed were Pat Quinn and Joe Berrios, the current governor of the our state and the current Cook County assessor.
Not including the governor is a big ommission, partially because as gov he has so much influence on the lives of the residents of Chicago but also because of his good working relationships with President Obama, Mike Madigan and Rahm Emanuel.
As for assessor Berrios, just amount of money he controls in the form of property tax dollars in Cook County, should place him in the top 25 most powerful people. He has a direct influence, directly or indirectly on all of the residents (renters and owners) of everyone in the city. Also consider his power as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.

Hi MKMChicago!

Just to clarify, there are aldermen, U.S. senators, and representatives for the Illinois House on our list. If you'd like to read up on them, they're listed as follows:

- Mike Madigan - #4 (Illinois House)
- Ed Burke - #19 (14th Ward Alderman)
- Dick Durbin - #33 (United States senator)
- Danny Solis - #77 (25th Ward Alderman)
- Patrick O'Connor - #81 (40th Ward Alderman)

And you can read up on our list process here: http://bit.ly/zTlAPo

Hope this helps and thanks for commenting!

Best,

Elizabeth

No Tony Weisman? The man who brought a multi-BILLION dollar piece of business (Sprint) to the Chicago Advertising community. Rumored to Generate 400+ jobs in the market. Word on the street is that Rahm personally thanked Tony for winning the business and bringing it to a struggling market. Just saying...

I thought Dick Durbin is an "Illinoisan Senator" from Springfield. The article title indicates these are "Chicagoans.

I've been away from Chicago since closing Gordon NYE 1999, but still keep in touch by Chicago Magazine, WGN, NYT and with the help of several in your 100 List.

Two Chicagoans who I think are part of any 'movers & shakers' list are:

1. Lislie Hindman, Founder and CEO of her auction businesses and who has a top table at most all charity events.

2. Albert Friedman, President and CEO of Friedman Properties, Inc. and the 'owner/founder' of River North from the The River to Grand Ave. Philanthropist, mentor to many star chef's, and ALWAYS paid his tabs at Gordon where the waitstaff loved his generosity.

3. Oprah is still a Chicagoan and opinion maker to the world..........

Gordon Sinclair

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for your question about Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin splits his residence between Chicago (has an apartment) and Springfield (has a home). When he's in D.C., he shares a group house with other lawmakers.

Let us know if you have any more questions!

Best,

Elizabeth

Nice to see so many women on this list. I'm really surprised Irene Rosenfeld is so high up, given that Kraft has performed so poorly under her tenure. Lisa Madigan is surprisingly low and why is Ted Phillips on this list at all?

Not a single musician on the list? Ouch.

What no Justice Ann Burke?

I'm not sure if the lack of a single musician from ANY genre is a slap in the face or indicative of how music sinks to the back of our minds when we think about social influence.

Also, that two MAJOR musical institutions in Chicago weren't included on the list - the Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a sad sign that classical music can easily become irrelevant to mainstream society. A sign of financial troubles to come for beloved institutions?

What about the Old Town School who just opened their new state-of-the-art building? It's a sad day when athletes and an actor make the list and NO MUSICIANS do.

OBOECHIC - CSO is represented at #72. But yes the almost complete lack folks from the music industry is painful. Especially considering there are four chefs, three restauranteurs, and six theater people.

Hi Oboechic,

Thanks for commenting on the story. We appreciate the feedback. Our list does include the president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Deborah Rutter, at number 72.

You can read more about her here: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2012/100-Most-Powerful-Chicagoans-Deborah-Rutter/

Best,

Elizabeth

Also, we feature Sir Andrew Davis and Gianna Rolandi of the Lyric Opera in our power couples section:

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2012/100-Most-Powerful-Chicagoans-Couples/

Michelle Boone ?
Really ?

No black aldermen ?

Highest rated black male is the sterotypical basketball player ?

And if you think Derrick Rose (7) has more power than either Daley (59, 99), the makers of this list must be very naieve about the state of race relations in this city.

Derrick Rose (7) is an EMPLOYEE, with more power than the man who signs his paychecks (#14) ?

This list must have been generated to spur water cooler discussion and not really taken seriously.

While I applaud her for making the list, but if you think Melody Sphann Cooper is more powerful than the Chairman of the largest bank in America, former cabinet member and chief of staff to the president, I have some swampland to sell you Palm Springs.

Bill Daley, is worth millions and runs a company worth billions and sits/sat at the seat of power to the higest office in the world;

Melody Sphann, heads a radio station where the phones don't work sometimes.

Cathy Harris should be included... Ms. Harris donated 30million $ to the Ronald McDonald House that is being built on Grand ave.
She also donated 50 million to help build Millenium Park on Michigan ave...Cathy is a true and Loyal patron of our Great City.
God Bless Cathy Harris.

Where's Lester Crown? He's not only a major philanthropist but is one of Chicago's premier civic leaders. And it's not enough to include him in the "couples" category.

Roger Ebert and Desiree Rogers are the only media people on the list? Really?

It is telling that Gov. Quinn was left off the list which has Mayor Emanuel and Rep. Mike Madigan in the top five. Quinn is nothing but a placeholder who does whatever he is told to do my Madigan.