Editing Anton Cermak (section)

==Early career==
After saving enough money to buy his own horse and cart, he went into business selling firewood, and he subsequently expanded his venture into a [[haulage]] business.{{sfn|''Journal of Proceedings''|page=533}} As he became more politically active, Cermak served in municipal government jobs, including as a clerk in the city police court, and as a [[bailiff]] for the [[Municipal Court of Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kendall |first1=Peter |title=The shooting of Anton Cermak |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/chi-chicagodays-cermak-story-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 22, 2020 |date=December 19, 2007 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322174940/https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/chi-chicagodays-cermak-story-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Daily News Almanac and Political Register for ... |date=1916 |publisher=Chicago Daily News Company |page=624 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PBjZAAAAMAAJ |access-date=March 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> As his political fortunes began to rise, Cermak was able to avail himself of other business opportunities, including interests in real estate, insurance, and banking.{{sfn|''Journal of Proceedings''|page=533}}

Cermak began his political career as a Democratic Party precinct captain, and in 1902, he was elected to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]. Seven years later, in 1909 he was elected to the [[Chicago City Council]] as an alderman of the 12th Ward. He was re-elected in 1911.<ref name=centennial>{{Cite web |url=http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm |title=Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office. |access-date=December 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052355/http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 1912, he resigned from the city council in order to accept a position as bailiff of the [[Chicago Municipal Court]].<ref>{{cite web |title=County Offices |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/339079561 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Chicago Eagle |access-date=14 February 2025 |language=en |date=December 9, 1922}}</ref> In 1918, Cermak unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic nominee for [[Cook County sheriff]]. He narrowly lost to Republican nominee [[Charles W. Peters]].<ref name=almanac1921>{{cite book |title=The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... |date=1921 |publisher=Chicago Daily News Company |page=784 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=JQ8fAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA784 |accessdate=March 13, 2020 }}</ref>

Cermak was elected in 1919 to again represent the 12th ward on the city council, and was re-elected in 1921.<ref name=centennial/> He was elected [[president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners]] in 1922, and resigned from the city council in order to assume office as county president on December 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=County Offices |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/339079561 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Chicago Eagle |access-date=14 February 2025 |language=en |date=December 9, 1922}}</ref> He was elected the chairman of the [[Cook County Democratic Party]] in 1928. [[1928 United States Senate special election in Illinois|Also in 1928]], he was the Democratic nominee for a seat in the [[United States Senate]], but was defeated by Republican [[Otis F. Glenn]], 54.46% to	44.94%.