Bernard Epton (1921-1987) was a wealthy insurance attorney and RepublicanIllinoisstate legislator most notable for opposing Harold Washington for the mayoralty of Chicago in 1983. . Epton came within 40,000 votes (of 1.2 million cast) of defeating Washington in a racially charged election. Ninety percent (90%) of the Chicago whites voted to Epton and three percent (3%) of the black vote. One of Epton's campaign slogans was “Epton... Before it’s to late.” 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party [1]), is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th) - Land 143,968 km² - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... State legislatures are the lawmaking bodies of the 50 states in the United States of America. ... Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922-November 25, 1987) was a lawyer and the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, Illinois serving from 1983 until his death in 1987. ... Chicago, colloquially known as the Second City and the Windy City, is the third-largest city in population in the United States and the largest inland city in the country. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Known for being witty and occasionally sharp-tounged, Epton died in Ann Arbor, Michigan less than three weeks after Harold Washington's death. City nicknames: A-squared, Tree Town County Washtenaw County Mayor John Hieftje Area - Total - Water 71. ...
One of his four children, Jeff Epton, was an alderman in Ann Arbor. An alderman is a member of a municipal legislative body in a town or city with many jurisdictions. ...
Although winning the Democratic primary is normally tantamount to election in heavily-Democratic Chicago, after his primary victory Washington found that his Republican opponent, BernardEpton earlier considered a nominal stand in, was supported by many white Democrats and ward organizations, including the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, Alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak.
Epton's campaign referred to, among other things, Harold Washington's conviction for failure to file income tax returns.
Washington's first term in office was characterized by ugly, racially polarized battles dubbed "Council Wars" referring to the then-recent Star Wars films, in which a 29-21 City Council majority refused to enact Washington's reform legislation, and prevented him from appointing reform nominees to boards and commissions.