Thu, December 11, 2008
Milorad "Rod" R. Blagojevich, born December 10, 1956, is an American politician from the state of Illinois. A Democrat, Blagojevich currently serves as governor of Illinois and previously represented parts of Chicago in the U.S. Congress. He is the second Serbian American to be elected governor of any state of the United States, after George Voinovich of Ohio.
Personal information
Blagojevich was born and raised in Chicago's northwest side, the second of two children. His father, Radisa Blagojevich, was an immigrant steel plant laborer from Serbia. Blagojevich spent much of his childhood working odd jobs to help the family pay its bills. He was a shoeshiner and pizza delivery boy before working at a meat packing plant. In order to afford college, Blagojevich worked for the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System as a dishwasher.
Blagojevich is married to the former Patricia Mell, daughter of Chicago Alderman Richard Mell. The couple has two daughters, Amy and Anne. Anne was born just months after her father was sworn in as governor. His sister-in-law is Deb Mell, a gay rights activist who ran unopposed for the state house in 2008. Blagojevich does not have a middle name, but uses the initial "R." in honor of his late father.
Education
He graduated from Chicago's Foreman High School after transferring from Lane Technical High School. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Tampa. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University in suburban Evanston where he obtained his bachelor's degree in 1979. He obtained his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983. Through his father-in-law's connections, Blagojevich clerked for Chicago Alderman Edward Vrdolyak. Blagojevich then took a job as Cook County Assistant State's Attorney (assistant prosecutor) under State's Attorney Richard M. Daley, specializing in domestic abuse crimes and felony weapons cases.
Career
Blagojevich was the first Democrat to be elected governor of Illinois in 30 years (since Daniel Walker in 1972). Blagojevich has struggled annually to pass legislation and budgets, often opposed by many members of his own party (which controls the Illinois General Assembly) who perennially disagree with him over budget and other issues. He has been the target of multiple federal investigations and has historically low approval ratings within Illinois; Rasmussen called him "America's Least Popular Governor."
(Selected from Wikipedia)
