44. James Crown 46. Dan Webb 45 Tom Ricketts Age: 49 Occupation: Chairman, Chicago Cubs Next Back In January, this longtime Cubs fan (who met his future wife in the Wrigley bleachers) announced that his family would pony up the bulk of his proposed $300 million Wrigley renovation—if the city and others would relax restrictions … Read more
77. Robert Clifford 79. Barbara Byrd-Bennett 78 Matt Hynes Age: 41 Occupation: Director, Office of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs, City of Chicago Next Back The mayor’s top political adviser and chief lobbyist has kept the City Council docile, helped put his boss front and center in Springfield, and proved to be gifted at the … Read more
33. Jeanne Gang 35. Brad Keywell 34 Greg Wasson Age: 54 Occupation: CEO, Walgreen Next Back Bruised from last year’s Express Scripts fiasco—analysts estimate that Walgreen’s contract dispute with the giant employee-benefits firm resulted in $4 billion of lost revenue—this former pharmacist needs a big win. Good thing he’s not shy about making big bets. … Read more
23. Ken Griffin 25. Tom Pritzker 24 Karen Lewis Age: 59 Occupation: President, Chicago Teachers Union Next Back Last year, she proved wrong all those who had dismissed her as a neophyte with a big mouth. The seven-day teachers’ strike she pulled off in September secured her 29,000 devoted union members a contract that delivered … Read more
45. Tom Ricketts 47. Neil Bluhm 46 Dan Webb Age: 67 Occupation: Chairman, Winston & Strawn Next Back This lawyer’s work ethic and impressive record representing corporate giants (GE, Pfizer, Microsoft) had already earned him a sterling reputation before he waded into the politically charged investigation of Richard Vanecko, the nephew of former mayor Richard … Read more
7. Michael Sacks 9. Irene Rosenfeld 8 Toni Preckwinkle Age: 65 Occupation: President, Cook County Board of Commissioners Next Back This reformer has managed to keep her sterling reputation in a town full of tarnished politicos and get stuff done: slashing patronage, halving the county’s $487 million deficit after her first year, and trimming a … Read more
28. Robert Zimmer 30. Garry McCarthy 29 Steve Koch Age: 57 Occupation: Deputy mayor, City of Chicago Next Back This Wall Street whiz, who once oversaw blockbuster deals for Credit Suisse, was hired last August as Rahm’s top business adviser. Now his fingers are everywhere: from dealing with the pension crisis to negotiating with the … Read more
If you missed calls from these six powerful Chicagoans, whose number would you dial first?
43. Martha Lavey 45. Tom Ricketts 44 James Crown Age: 59 Occupation: President, Henry Crown and Co. Next Back The son of billionaire Lester Crown (No. 12) is a serious guy who knows how to handle serious money. He doesn’t just run his family’s private investment firm; he’s the lead director of defense industry behemoth … Read more
52. Richard M. Daley 54. Morton Schapiro 53 John Daley Age: 66 Occupation: Commissioner, Cook County Board Next Back If politics still happened in smoke-filled rooms, the other, other Daley would play lead cigar. He is the consummate backchannel guy, with 20 years on the board and dominance over county finances. Photograph: SCOTT STRAZZANTE/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
