Burton Natarus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burton Natarus
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Natarus in 2007
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| City of Chicago Alderman | |
| In office 1971–2007 |
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| Succeeded by | Brendan Reilly |
| Constituency | 42d Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 7, 1933 Wausau, Wisconsin, US |
| Died | June 11, 2020 (aged 86) Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard |
Burton F. "Burt" Natarus (November 7, 1933 – June 11, 2020) was an important politician in Chicago. He served as an Alderman for the 42nd Ward of Chicago for 36 years, from 1971 to 2007. An Alderman is like a city council member who represents a specific area, or "ward," in the city.
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Early Life and Education
Burt Natarus was born in Wausau, Wisconsin. He went to the University of Wisconsin and earned degrees in 1956 and 1960. He also continued his studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
After college, Burt became a lawyer in Chicago. Later, he taught about local government at Loyola University in Chicago. Burt also served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves. While in the Army, he earned special "jump wings" as a paratrooper.
Community Involvement
Outside of his main job, Burt Natarus was involved in many community groups. These groups helped improve different parts of Chicago. Some of the groups he was active in included the City Club of Chicago, the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, and the River North Association. He cared about making his community a better place.
Serving as an Alderman
Burt Natarus was a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected as Alderman for the 42nd Ward in 1971. He was re-elected eight times, serving for a total of 36 years. The 42nd Ward includes some of Chicago's well-known neighborhoods, such as Streeterville, the Gold Coast, the Magnificent Mile, River North, and the Loop.
As an Alderman, Natarus was the Chairman of the Traffic and Safety Committee. He also worked on six other important committees. These included committees for Finance, Zoning, and Housing. He was also a member of the Chicago Plan Commission, which helps plan the city's future.
Natarus was known for supporting projects that helped his community. He worked on things like funding for the arts, expanding parks, and promoting gun safety. He was also known for being very good at writing new laws and rules for the city. People even called him "the Master of the Ordinance" because of his skill.
He often supported the Mayor's plans and new building projects in his ward. He believed that new buildings helped the city grow and pointed to the many new buildings in his area as a sign of his success.
Later Career and Defeat
Over time, Natarus faced some challenges. In 2007, he ran for re-election for a tenth term. However, he was defeated by Brendan Reilly in the election.
Burt Natarus passed away on June 11, 2020, at the age of 86.
Personal Life
Burt Natarus had two children, Jill Ellen and Michael. He also had one grandchild, Jacob.
