James Patrick Hickey (born February 22, 1973) is the President of the Orland Fire Protection District, (OFPD), one of the largest Fire Protection Districts in the State of

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

and the Midwest. The Orland Fire Protection District covers Orland Township, the Village of Orland Park, the Village of Orland Hills, unincorporated areas of Orland Township, and parts of

Tinley Park Tinley Park is a village in Cook and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 55,971 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb in the Chicago metropolitan area. History 19th century Modern settlement of the area now known as Ti ...

. Hickey was first elected to serve a six year term on the OFPD in 2009 as a trustee, and was elected as the board's president in 2010. As the new president of the board, Hickey and the board cut the District's budget by more than $2 million during the first year. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended St Adrian Grammar School, St. Laurence High School,

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...

(BA Liberal Arts), and graduated from

Benedictine University Benedictine University is a Private university, private Catholic Colleges in the United States, Catholic university with campuses in Lisle, Illinois, and Mesa, Arizona, United States. It was founded in 1887 by the Benedictine monks of St. Proco ...

with an MBA and concentrations in Finance & Accounting. He's the director of business development (real estate) for Peace Village, a senior citizens community in Palos Park, but before that was a partner in a mortgage and real estate business. Hickey grew up on the Southwest Side of Chicago in St. Adrian Parish near 71st Street and Western Avenue "where my parents and grandparents had lived." Hickey has also run several times for public elective office including in the

Democratic Primary This is a list of Democratic Party presidential primaries. 1912 This was the first time that candidates were chosen through primaries. New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson ran to become the nominee, and faced the opposition of Speaker of the Un ...

election for the new 11th Congressional District in 2012, which was won by Democrat and incumbent Congressman Bill Foster. The 11th District includes the municipalities of Joliet, Aurora, Naperville, Burr Ridge, Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, but does not include Orland Park or the OFPD. During his election, he proposed eliminating the interest paid by students on government loans to college students as a means of assisting college students. In December 2013, he announced his intention to run for the

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in the 2nd Congressional District, the seat formerly held by former Congressman

Jesse Jackson Jesse Louis Jackson (Birth name#Maiden and married names, né Burns; born October 8, 1941) is an American Civil rights movements, civil rights activist, Politics of the United States, politician, and ordained Baptist minister. Beginning as a ...

, but later withdrew. Hickey also was a surprise candidate for a seat on the Cook county Board in the 17th District to challenge three-term incumbent Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman. But Hickey, a Democrat, and Gorman, a Republican commissioner and GOP Committeeman of Orland Township, are political allies. Hickey was unchallenged in the March 18, 2014 Democratic Primary and is the Democratic nominee for the November 4, 2014 general election. Hickey said he entered the race for the 17th District Cook County Board believing that Gorman, his ally who was a key supporter in Hickey's election, was planning to run for higher office and that he would only seek Gorman's seat in the November 4, 2014 Illinois general election if she retired. Hickey is the past president of

Toastmasters International Toastmasters International (TI) is a US-headquartered nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping people develop communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. History On 24 March 1905, Dr ...

(2005–2006). He is divorced and has four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hickey, James Patrick American real estate brokers Living people 1973 births People from Cook County, Illinois DePaul University alumni Benedictine University alumni Illinois Democrats