Tom Dart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Dart
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Dart in 2017
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| Sheriff of Cook County | |
| Assumed office 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Michael F. Sheahan |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 28th district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Robert Rita |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 14th district |
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| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Jeremiah E. Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Emil Jones Jr. (redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1962 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Patricia |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Providence College (BA) Loyola University Chicago (JD) |
Thomas J. Dart (born May 22, 1962) is an American lawyer and public official. He serves as the Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. Before becoming Sheriff, he was a member of the Illinois General Assembly, which is the state's law-making body.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tom Dart was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 22, 1962. He went to Mount Carmel High School. After high school, he studied history at Providence College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, he went to Loyola University Chicago and earned a law degree, which is called a Juris Doctor.
Public Service Career
Tom Dart started his career working for a U.S. Senator. He also worked for a committee in the Illinois Senate that deals with laws. He was an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County, which means he was a lawyer who worked for the government to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.
In 1991, he was chosen to be a member of the Illinois Senate. He then won an election in 1992 to become a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. He served in this role from January 1993 until January 2003.
After his time in the state legislature, he became the chief of staff for the Cook County Sheriff. In 2002, he ran for Illinois State Treasurer, a job that manages the state's money, but he did not win that election.
Becoming Cook County Sheriff
In 2006, the Sheriff of Cook County decided to retire. Tom Dart decided to run for the position. He won the primary election, which is when voters choose who will represent their party in the main election. He then won the general election in November 2006 and became the Sheriff of Cook County. He was re-elected in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Helping People with Foreclosures
In October 2008, Sheriff Dart made national news. He announced that his office would stop all foreclosure evictions in Cook County for a while. Evictions happen when people are forced to leave their homes, often because they can't pay their mortgage.
The number of these evictions had grown a lot because of a big financial problem called the subprime mortgage crisis. Sheriff Dart noticed that many people being evicted were renters who had always paid their rent. They didn't know their landlord was having financial problems.
He explained that some mortgage companies were not following the rules to find out who lived in the homes. He said, "These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people, and don't care [...] who gets hurt along the way." He added that his office would not evict innocent renters.
Some groups, like the Illinois Bankers Association, disagreed with his decision. However, Time Magazine recognized Sheriff Dart as one of its 100 Most Influential People in 2009 for his actions.
Lawsuit Against Craigslist
In March 2009, Sheriff Dart filed a lawsuit against a website called Craigslist. He wanted to close a section of the website that he believed was being used for illegal activities. The lawsuit was later dismissed by the court.
Personal Life
Tom Dart is married to Patricia, and they have five children. They live in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago.
Images for kids
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Tom Dart in 2017
See also
In Spanish: Tom Dart para niños
