Terry Gabinski

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Terry Gabinski

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|11|20}}

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| office = 4th Vice Mayor of Chicago

| 1blankname = Mayor

| 1namedata = Eugene Sawyer
Richard M. Daley

| predecessor = David Orr

| successor = Bernard Stone

| term_start = 1988

| term_end = 1998

| office1 = Member of the Chicago City Council from the 32nd ward

| term_start1 = March 12, 1969

| term_end1 = May 20, 1998

| predecessor1 = Robert Sulski

| successor1 = Theodore Matlak

| party = Democratic

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| spouse = Celeste

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| alma_mater = {{nowrap|Northern Illinois University (BS)
Loyola University (MEd)}}

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| profession = Politician
Teacher

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Theris M. Gabinski (born November 30, 1938) was an American politician who served as a Chicago alderman representing the 32nd ward from 1969 to 1998 and as Democratic committeeman from the city's 32nd ward from 1988 to 2008.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Northern Illinois University in 1962. He became a teacher at Ridgewood High School in suburban Norridge before becoming an aide to Congressman Dan Rostenkowski. Rostenowski later backed him for an appointment to Alderman for the 32nd ward after Robert Sulski became a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County.{{cite book|last=Fremon|first=David K.|date=October 22, 1988|title=Chicago Politics Ward by Ward|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0253204909|location=Bloomington, Indiana|publisher=Indiana University Press|page=110|isbn=0-253-31344-9}} He took office the same day as Edward M. Burke.{{cite news|first1=Andrew|last1=Martin|first2=Gary|last2=Washburn|title=Council's Gabinski Shy, Now Retiring: 29-year Vet Served Ward Quietly|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=January 28, 1998|access-date=May 23, 2017|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/01/28/councils-gabinski-shy-now-retiring/|archive-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911023714/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-01-28/news/9801280157_1_aldermen-vice-mayor-city-hall|url-status=live}}

During the Council Wars he sided with the all-white Vrdolyak 29 in opposition of Mayor Harold Washington. In 1988, he was appointed Democratic Committeeman for the ward; succeeding his mentor Rostenkowski. In the 1987 election when Washington took a majority on the council, he defeated Washington-ally Emma Lozano Rico, the sister of labor activist Rudy Lozano, with 75% of the vote.

From 1988 until 1998, Gabinski was the city's Vice Mayor.{{cite web |last1=Dold |first1=R. Bruce |title=COUNCIL REPLACES ORR AS VICE MAYOR |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-05-26-8801020651-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=16 April 2020 |date=26 May 1988 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513180924/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-05-26-8801020651-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Tribune |first1=Chicago |title=GABINSKI'S TOP AIDE LIKELY TO SUCCEED HIM |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-05-20-9805200148-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=16 April 2020 |date=5 May 1988 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513191746/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-05-20-9805200148-story.html |url-status=live }} Gabinski was elected Vice Mayor by the Chicago City Council after they voted to oust David Orr over his attempts to make reforms that would have held the council's committees more accountable for the budgets they manage.

He resigned from the council before the end of his eighth term and was succeeded by Theodore Matlak on May 20, 1998.{{cite news|first1=Andrew|last1=Martin|first2=Gary|last2=Washburn|title=Aldermen Target Hospitals After Teen's Death|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=May 21, 1998|access-date=May 23, 2017|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/05/21/aldermen-target-hospitals-after-teens-death/}} In 2008, he stepped down as Democratic Committeeman allowing his almost opponent in 2004, John Fritchey, to run with token opposition.{{cite news|first1=Rich|last1=Miller|title=Filing Day|newspaper=Capitol Fax|location=Springfield, Illinois|date=November 6, 2007|accessdate=May 23, 2017|url=https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=4593&more=1|archive-date=August 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818044745/https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=4593&more=1|url-status=live}}