Martin J. Oberman

Last updated
Marty Oberman
Marty Oberman.jpg
Official portrait, 2019
Chair of the Surface Transportation Board
In office
January 21, 2021 –May 10, 2024

After nearly three years (1969–1972) as a lawyer with the Chicago firm of Leibman, Williams, Bennett, Baird, and Minow,[ citation needed ] Oberman became General Counsel to the Illinois Racing Board under Anthony Scariano. Oberman investigated and prosecuted various corrupt racing interests in License revocation proceedings for political payoffs, race-fixing and horse drugging.[ citation needed ]

Chicago City Council

In 1975, Oberman was elected Alderman from Chicago's 43rd Ward. He had an adversarial relationship with the Chicago City Council's political majority. In 1979 and again in 1983, he was reelected as Alderman.

Oberman was a member of the minority independent bloc of aldermen. He had a reputation as a reformer, and kept himself distanced from the city's Democratic machine politics.[ citation needed ]

Oberman, along with fellow independent alderman Dick Simpson, was one of only two aldermen to vote against the resolution appointing Michael Anthony Bilandic to hold the mayoralty after Richard J. Daley's death in office.

From 1983 to 1986, Marty supported Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago's first African American mayor in the era of the Council Wars.[ citation needed ] He had been a supporter of Washington's mayoral candidacy.

Subsequent career

After leaving the City Council, Oberman was appointed Chairman of the Shore Protection Commission, which was tasked with doing a complete rehabilitation of Chicago's shoreline to ensure environmental protection.

Oberman ran for Illinois Attorney General in 1982 (in which he was not on the ballot), 1986, and again in 1994. He did not win any of these campaigns.

In September 2014, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel named Oberman to the board of Metra, Chicago's commuter rail system. [17] He took his seat in November. [18] On February 11, 2014, the board unanimously voted to make him Metra chairman, a position he held until November 1, 2016. [17] [19] His term at Metra was plagued with problems, including late trains [20] and train breakdowns, among other issues. [21]

On July 5, 2018, President Donald Trump announced he was seeking to appoint Oberman to the Democratic vacancy on the United States Surface Transportation Board. He was confirmed for the vacancy on January 3, 2019, by a voice vote in the United States Senate. In January 2019, he began a five-year term on the Surface Transportation Board. In January 2021, he was named Chairman of the Board by President Biden.

In the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Oberman endorsed Lori Lightfoot, publicly declaring his support of her candidacy in advance of the first round of the election. [22]

Surface Transportation Board (STB)

He was confirmed for the vacancy on January 3, 2019, by a voice vote in the United States Senate. Following Joe Biden's inauguration as president in 2021, Oberman was chosen to serve as chair of the STB. [23]

Oberman retired in May 2024. [24]

Family life

Oberman lives in Chicago with his wife, Bonnie Oberman, who was the Chicago Director of Facing History and Ourselves. [25]

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References

  1. ↑ "Surface Transportation Board".
  2. ↑ "President Biden Designates Robert E. Primus as STB Chairman". Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  3. ↑ "Surface Transportation Board".
  4. ↑ "Metra board poised to name new chairman". Chicago Tribune. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Dorfman, Daniel I. (29 November 2022). "Lake Forest resident retiring from Metra board". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 Wanek-Libman, Mischa (2018-07-06). "Oberman nominated for STB slot". Railway Track and Structures. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  7. ↑ "Board Members". Surface Transportation Board. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  8. ↑ "Illinois State Journal VOL. 114: OFFERS PLAN TO END STRIKE" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 114. Springfield. October 2, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved October 5, 2023. Harry Oberman (...) died at 5. a. m. yesterday (...) Mr. Oberman was born March 25, 1888, in Russia and came to the United States in 1906. He entered the junk business a few years later and (...) became owner of the grocery store.
  9. 1 2 "The Illinois State Journal VOL. 78: LEADING INCIDENTS IN CHINESE MISSION MURDER" . The Illinois State Journal. Vol. 78. June 21, 1909. p. 6. Retrieved October 5, 2023. Oberman-Graonick--Married, at 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon, June 20, 1909, at the Synagogue of the Congregation of B'Nal Abraham (...) Harry W. Oberman and Miss Ida Graonick...
  10. ↑ "Illinois State Journal VOL. 108: SOVIET-GERMAN PACT TO BE PUSHED" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 108. October 9, 1939. p. 13. Retrieved October 5, 2023. Miss Sophia Gertrude Freidman, (...) became the bride of Morris David Oberman (...) yesterday.
  11. ↑ "Illinois State Journal VOL. 132, NO. 303: SOVIETS LET CONVOY PASS" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 132, no. 303. November 6, 1963. p. 5. Retrieved October 5, 2023. M. D. (Mush) Oberman, (...) who is heading a drive for Howarth for the Republican nomination for secretary of state...
  12. ↑ "Illinois State Journal and Register: SETS WORLD SPEED RECORD" . Illinois State Journal and Register. September 5, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved October 5, 2023. Installation of officers of the Emes Jodge, Bnai Brith of Springfield (...) The following were installed: (...) Morris D. Oberman, secretary...
  13. ↑ "Illinois State Journal VOL. 117: SENATE DEBATES DRAFT BILL" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 117. June 10, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved October 5, 2023. B'nai Abraham Elects Officers (...) Elected as members of the board of directors were (...) Morris Oberman....
  14. 1 2 "Illinois State Journal VOL. 128, NO. 49: POWELL WINS ON GOP SHIFT" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 128, no. 49. Springfield. January 8, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved October 5, 2023. Martin J. Oberman is serving as a page in the House of Representatives of the 86th Congress (...) he received his appointment while a superior honor student at Lawrence Junior High School. (...) Martin graduated from Culver Military Academy (...) and ranks in the top selection of his class in all subjects.
  15. ↑ "Illinois State Journal VOL. 131, NO. 164: CARPENTER READY TO ORBIT" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 131, no. 164. Springfield. May 24, 1962. p. 34. Retrieved October 5, 2023. ...Martin Oberman, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Oberman (...), will graduate from Culver Military Academy, (...) on June 5.
  16. ↑ Alsene, Ed (October 5, 1962). "Illinois State Journal VO. 131, NO. 276: Quotes And Notes" . Illinois State Journal. Vol. 131, no. 276. p. 31. Retrieved October 5, 2023. ...Martin Oberman of Springfield is on the freshman football squad at Yale University...
  17. 1 2 "Former alderman picked as new Metra chairman". Chicago Tribune. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Franz, Justin (20 November 2023). "Surface Transportation Board Chair Martin J. Oberman to Step Down". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Martin J. Oberman, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board". North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS). Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  20. ↑ ABC30. "Metra elects new board chairman Martin Oberman, expects delays Tuesday | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved 2024-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "Critic dubs Metra's $1.3M tab for Clifford exit 'indefensible'". Chicago Sun-Times. 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  22. ↑ "Former Clerk David Orr, Former Alds. Dick Simpson and Marty Oberman, endorse Lightfoot". Lightfoot for Chicago. February 20, 2019. Archived from the original (Press release) on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  23. ↑ "President Biden Designates Martin Oberman as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board » Freight Rail Customer Alliance". railvoices.org. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  24. ↑ "STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman Retires". Surface Transportation Board. 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  25. ↑ Community Conversation with Marco Williams | Facing History and Ourselves


Political offices
Preceded by Member of the Chicago City Council
43rd Ward
1975 –1987		Succeeded by
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