28 Facts About Bernard Stone

Bernard "Berny" L Stone was alderman of the 50th Ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois from 1973 to 2011.

Bernard Stone was "outspoken" and "relished the rough and tumble of politics".

Bernard Stone was born on November 24,1927 in Chicago to Jewish immigrant parents.

Bernard Stone was educated in the Chicago Public Schools system at Von Humboldt Elementary and Tuley High School, which is Roberto Clemente Community Academy.

Bernard Stone attended Wright Junior College, now known as Wilbur Wright College, and John Marshall Law School.

In 1956, Bernard Stone ran in the Democratic primary for the Illinois House of Representatives, but was defeated by Esther Saperstein, who went on to serve in the Illinois House for ten years and became Illinois' first female state senator.

In 1963, Stone was one of a record 233 candidates filing to run for Chicago alderman, and one of ten challengers to the incumbent in the 50th Ward, Republican Alderman Jack I Sperling, who sought a third four-year term.

Bernard Stone was an employee in the office of Cook County Sheriff Richard Elrod and the vice president of the 50th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, which endorsed him for alderman.

Bernard Stone was one of five candidates who filed to finish Sperling's term.

Bernard Stone organized the "Concerned Citizens of the 50th Ward" to counter neighboring Lincolnwood's opposition to a bridge over the North Shore Channel at Pratt Avenue, which Bernard Stone called a "necessity" for the 50th Ward.

Former Alderman and former Cook County Democratic Party chairman Edward R Vrdolyak converted to the Republican Party and encouraged Stone to follow suit and run for Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

On October 29,1987, Bernard Stone announced he had joined the Republican Party and expressed his intention to run for Recorder.

In 1988, Bernard Stone ran as a Republican against African-American Democratic Illinois State Representative Carol Moseley Braun for Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

Bernard Stone was defeated by Braun and contributed to a sweep of Cook County offices by Democrats.

In 1989, Bernard Stone unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Mayor of Chicago, to unseat Mayor Sawyer.

Bernard Stone demanded that Evanston pick up the cost of the installation and removal of the guardrail.

On September 21,1994, the judge ruled that the March 25,1993, resolution which Bernard Stone ushered through the Chicago City Council authorized Chicago's Department of Transportation commissioner to consider a barrier, declared that the Department had no authority to install the guardrail, ordered Chicago to remove it and pay all costs including Evanston's legal fees, and dismissed Chicago's countersuit to block the shopping center.

Bernard Stone passed legislation through the Chicago City Council to change to one-way, northbound only, portions of Kedzie and Sacramento Avenues, two Chicago streets south of the shopping center.

Bernard Stone fell asleep at his desk in Council Chambers in City Hall during the City Council's Finance Committee debate on the controversial parking meter lease in December 2008 and was photographed by the press.

Bernard Stone was videotaped sleeping during a Finance Committee hearing on the transparency of the City's tax increment financing program in March 2009.

On September 4,2007, speaking from the floor of Council Chambers during a meeting of the Buildings Committee, Bernard Stone warned fellow aldermen of an ongoing investigation into absentee balloting.

Bernard Stone blamed Byrne's predecessor for Eapen's paid leave, saying "Mike Picardi has no cojones".

Bernard Stone commented on the testimony, "I have no recollection of what she is talking about".

Bernard Stone said Inspector General Hoffman targeted his staff while failing to investigate other aldermen's staffs.

Bernard Stone was the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Buildings, and served on the following City Council committees: Budget and Government Operations, Finance, Historical Landmark Preservation, Housing and Landmark Preservation, Traffic Control and Safety, and the Committee on Committees.

Bernard Stone worshipped at Congregation Ezras Israel and served on their Board of Directors.

Bernard Stone supported Matlak, calling his son "an embarrassment" who "doesn't know what he's doing".

Bernard Stone died on December 22,2014, at age 87 from complications from a fall.