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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF RICHARD (RICH) KENNETH MEANS
WHEREAS, renowned election attorney Richard (Rich) Kenneth Means died on December 17, 2020, at the age of 78, due to complications of SARS-CoV-2; and
WHEREAS, Rich was born in Champaign, IL and raised in Western Springs, IL. He graduated from Lyons Township High and attended college at Eastern New Mexico University and the University of Stockholm. He graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 1968; and
WHEREAS, Rich practiced election and public service law for more than 50 years, until the time of his death. He was one of the first attorneys appointed to the then newly formed Cook County State’s Attorney’s Election Enforcement Division and helped to shape the direction and purpose of that unit. After leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office, he established a private practice through which he represented and counseled many currently elected officials and others who did not succeed in their bid for elective office. Rich often stated that his proudest professional accomplishment was serving as the election attorney for Harold Washington’s successful Chicago mayoral campaign in 1983; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career, he educated both attorneys and the public in the intricacies of election law. He was a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Election Law Committee and served twice as its chairman; and
WHEREAS, Rich was long involved in both civic and progressive politics. He was the executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers from 1970 to 1972. He is a past state chairman of Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI). Most recently, he served as the Illinois Chapter Chair of the liberal advocacy group Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). “He was a very significant figure in independent politics and the go-to counsel to many an independent office seeker,” said Dan Lauber, who served with him on the IVI board; and
WHEREAS, Rich was the beloved husband of Anne L. Rooney; father of Chris (Michele) Means, Annika (Andrew) Rothbaum, and Alex Means; grandfather of Logan Means, and Eve and Soren Rothbaum; dear brother of James (Linda) and Dexter (Lynne) Means and Margaret “Peggy” (James) Newman. He will be missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the life and contributions of Richard (Rich) Means, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to the family of Richard (Rich) Means.end