Abner Mikva, Former U.S. Representative, Dies

Abner Mikva, a prominent Chicago politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois and as the White House Counsel under Bill Clinton, died Monday at age 90.

Mikva was a longtime Hyde Park resident and lived in the community during his ten years representing Illinois’ 2nd District in the House. He earned his law degree at the University of Chicago and later taught law there.

Lisa Kohn, a Hyde Park resident, described Mikva as "a mentor and model for many in politics, social action and law. "

His distinguished political career included an appointment as Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. under Clinton. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom under President Barack Obama, who also learned and received support from Mikva.

"Ab represented the best of public service himself and he believed in empowering the next generation of young people to shape our country,” Obama wrote in a statement on Tuesday.

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Mikva was first elected to the state of Illinois House of Representatives at age 30 and served that body for five terms before being elected to the U.S. House for another five.

As an independent Democrat, Mikva overcame the Chicago Democratic Machine in 1956 to become the first independent Democrat from Chicago in modern times to have been elected to the state legislature. Backed by the Independent Voters of Illinois, Mikva bested two Chicago machine candidates to win the seat.

He was often referred to as the "nobody nobody sent."

"Throughout his career, Abner fought for unpopular decisions and for those whose voices needed to -- but could not -- be heard," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "He championed for minority voting rights, civil liberties, free speech, and equality."

Emanuel worked closely with Mikva during the Clinton presidency.

While in the U.S. House, Mikva was known for his pro-civil rights and civil liberties views as well as his opposition to the Vietnam War.

Part of Mikva's time in the U.S. House included serving Illinois' 10th District. Current 10th District U.S. Rep. Robert Dold, a Republican, said Tuesday Mikva "dedicated his life to public service."

A spokesperson for a Democratic group in the 10th District also praised the late political leader.

"Ab Mikva is one of the finest public servants I have ever known," said Tenth Dems' Founding Chair and former state legislator Lauren Beth Gash. "His integrity and zeal to make the world a better place are legendary."

Mikva was the founder of the Mikva Challenge, a non profit that "develops youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders," according to its website.

Mikva recently said creating the Challenge with his wife, Zoe was "absolutely the best thing that Zoey and I ever did in our lives."

Photo: Wikimedia Commons