George Ryan
George Homer Ryan ( born February 24, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa) is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Illinois from 1999 to 2003. The doctor of pharmacist is a member of the Republican Party. He was also Speaker of the House of Representatives from Illinois and Vice Governor and Secretary of State in that State. When he was elected governor in 1998, he sat down against the Congressman Glenn Poshard of the Democratic Party with 51% to 47 % of the vote through.
Early years and political rise
George Ryan grew up in Illinois in Kankakee County. He also visited the elementary schools. After his time as a soldier during the Korean War, he attended until 1961, the Ferris State College in Michigan, where he studied pharmacy. Subsequently, he participated in the pharmacies of his father, which developed into a thriving family business. Ryan's political career began in the County Council ( County Board ) of Kankakee County. There he was represented 1968-1973. Between 1973 and 1983 he was a delegate in the House of Representatives from Illinois. He spent the next 20 years in the highest government positions of Illinois. Between 1983 and 1991 he was under Governor James R. Thompson as vice governor his deputy. Under Governor Jim Edgar, he was from 1991 to 1999 Secretary of State. In 1998 he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Governor of Illinois
After the successful election Ryan took up his new post on 11 January 1999. As governor, he pushed for an improvement in the infrastructure of the state. This included the development of the motorway network, thereby improving the transport routes. The educational institutions were encouraged by Governor Ryan. In addition, he assisted with the technological advancement in his state. In 1999, Ryan made headlines when he met the first sitting governor of a U.S. state with Fidel Castro. This meeting was domestically highly controversial in the United States. Ryan received international recognition when he all in 2003 at the end of his term - pardoned death row inmates of Illinois - at this time 167 ( including four women ). He transformed their death sentence into life imprisonment. His decision, he established the fact that the American legal system " arbitrary and capricious, and therefore immoral" is. Especially in the U.S., his decision was controversial. Because of his efforts, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Another Journey
In April 2006, Ryan was convicted to have political friends and partners delivered inserted lucrative public contracts. Including the store with the computer giant IBM said to have been in the amount of $ 25 million. The allegations went even as far back as his time as Secretary of State and included corruption and bribery. In September 2006 it was announced that the ex-governor for going to prison for six years. The Law Firm of ex- Governor James R. Thompson took over the defense in this case. Currently, he is serving his prison sentence.