Background
DeLeo, James A. was born on August 10, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
DeLeo, James A. was born on August 10, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
DeLeo was educated in the Chicago Public Schools, he later attended Chicago"s Loop Junior College (now Harold Washington College) and where he majored in political science.
Earlier he served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He announced his retirement from the State Senate in 2010, and left office in August 2010. Democrat John G. Mulroe was appointed to replace him and defeated Republican Brian Doherty for a full term in office in the 2010 general election.
DeLeo worked for the Chicago Police Department and then later the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.
Later in his career, he was promoted and made chief bailiff for Wayne Olson. Before becoming a state senator, DeLeo served in the Illinois House of Representatives.
In 1992, State Republican DeLeo was indicted by a federal grand jury in the "Operation Greylord" investigation of corruption in Cook County for taking bribes.
DeLeo negotiated a guilty plea on a misdemeanor tax offense, and was placed on probation. DeLeo sponsored legislation to increase funding for diabetes research by giving individual taxpayers the opportunity to designate contributions on their income tax returns.
He also sponsored resolution SJR0061 of the 95th General Assembly honoring the life the late Rosemont, Illinois Mayor, Donald East. Stephens. DeLeo one of the top go-to guys at the Illinois Statehouse for jobs inside the Blagojevich administration.
DeLeo chose to leave office in August 2010 and Democratic candidate John G. Mulroe was appointed to complete the remainder of his term.
In the Senate DeLeo served as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments, and was a member of the Senate Executive Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee.
Married Ann DeLeo; 2 children.
