Richard Boykin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard R. Boykin
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Boykin in 2017
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| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 1st district |
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| In office December 1, 2014 – November 28, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Earlean Collins |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Johnson |
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| Born | Jackson, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of Dayton School of Law |
| Profession | Attorney politician |
Richard R. Boykin is a former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He represented the 1st district from December 2014 until December 2018. The Cook County Board helps make important decisions for Cook County, Illinois.
Contents
Richard Boykin's Political Journey
Serving Cook County
Richard Boykin was elected in 2014 to serve on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. This board is like a local government for Cook County, Illinois. His district, the 1st district, included parts of Chicago like Garfield Park and Humboldt Park. It also covered several suburbs such as Broadview, Maywood, and Oak Park.
Taking on the "Soda Tax"
While on the board, Boykin became well-known for opposing a special tax on sugary drinks. This tax was often called the "soda tax." He strongly disagreed with the County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, about this tax. Boykin led the effort to get the tax removed. Thanks to his work, the board voted to cancel the tax in 2017.
Boykin often voted differently from President Preckwinkle and her main supporter, Chuy García. This showed that he was willing to stand up for what he believed was right for the people he represented.
Attending Meetings
A study in 2018 looked at how often board members attended meetings. It found that Richard Boykin had a very high attendance rate. From 2014 to 2017, he missed only 2% of the meetings. This showed his dedication to his role.
Later Elections
In 2018, Boykin ran for reelection but narrowly lost in the Democratic primary. A "primary" is an election where voters choose which candidate from a political party will run in the main election. He lost to Brandon Johnson, who was supported by Toni Preckwinkle.
After leaving the County Board, Boykin ran for other offices. In 2020, he tried to become the Democratic candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He also challenged Toni Preckwinkle again in 2022 for the position of President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. However, he was not successful in these later elections.
