Edward Acevedo

Edward "Eddie" Acevedo (born July 23, 1963) is an American politician. He was a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 2nd district from 1997 to 2017. In 2021 he was convicted of tax evasion.

Early life Acevedo was born and raised in Chicago. He earned his associate degree in general studies from City-Wide College.

Chicago Police Department Acevedo long served as a police officer for the Chicago Police Department. He was decorated for heroism and valor by the Cook County Sheriff's Office for rescuing victims trapped in a fire. To which we learn was a lie and he never rescued anyone.

In June 1995, he would hired by the Chicago Police Department to serve as a correctional officer for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The boy was frightened and fled down a nearby alley, to which Acevedo responded by firing at him 3 times with his service pistol. Acevedo hit the boy in the arm and leg, while missing his third shot. Though critically injured, the boy survived and recovered from the encounter. Two years after the shooting, the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) cleared Acevedo of any wrongdoing.

State representative Acevedo was first elected State Representative in 1997. During his tenure, he was re-elected co-chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus for state legislators and co-chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. He was the first Latino appointed to his position of assistant majority leader.

Acevedo served on nine committees: Appropriations for Elementary and Secondary Education; Broadband Infrastructure; Executive; Financial Institutions; International Trade and Commerce; Pay Day Loans; Pension Fund Management Procurement; Registration and Regulation; and Telecommunications.

Election results

Year Winner Votes Pct Opponent Votes Pct 1998 Democratic Primary

1998 General

No Challenger 2000 Democratic Primary

No Challenger 2000 General

No Challenger 2002 Democratic Primary

No Challenger 2002 General

2004 Democratic Primary

No Challenger 2004 General

No Challenger 2006 Democratic Primary

2006 General

No Challenger 2008 Democratic Primary

2008 General

2010 Democratic Primary

2012 Democratic Primary

Voting history

Abortion Acevedo voted for a bill that allows for minors to obtain abortions without family or judicial notification by seeking counseling with a licensed medical counseling professional.

He voted against House Bill HB429 which as of June 1, 2008, removed the right of Illinois wine buyers to buy wine from out-of-state wine stores.

Electronic eavesdropping Acevedo voted against HB 3944 which would have amended the electronic eavesdropping act to permit citizens to make recordings of a police officer "who is performing a public duty in a public place and any other person who is having a conversation with that law enforcement officer if the conversation is at a volume audible to the unassisted ear of the person who is making the recording."

Eminent domain He voted against

He voted for on HB 5285 a bill that would allow for the extending parental health insurance to unmarried dependents.

Immigration He voted for on HB 4201 which would create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans.

Transportation Acevedo voted to concur with the Governor's amendment which proposed that any fixed route public transportation services provided by the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Board, the Suburban Bus Board, all Local Mass Districts, and certain participants in the Downstate Public Transportation Fund shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older, subject to certain residency requirements and under conditions determined by the transit board.

He voted yes to fund the Regional Transportation Authority through the motor fuel tax. This bill redirects 80 percent of the revenue collected from the 6.25 percent tax on motor fuel in the six Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to the Public Transportation Fund [sec. 4.09 (a)(2)].

He also voted yes to pass a bill that amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act by increasing the rate of taxes the Authority is allowed to impose and requiring the Authority to provide oversight of the Service Boards. This bill also designates funds for the support and improvement of public transportation. - Allows the City of Chicago to impose a real estate transfer tax of up to $1.50 per $500 of value [Sec. 3–2.3(E)]. - Allows for a 0.25% increase in the sales tax in the Chicago metropolitan area [Sec. 4.03(e-g)]. - Outlines the distribution of tax revenues to various Service Boards (Sec. 4.03.3).

Veteran Affairs He did not vote At the time of his sentencing, it also acknowledged that this tax evasion case against Acevodo was also tied to the same investigation which led to the then-recent indictment of renowned former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.

Health problems In December 2024, Acevedo was confirmed to now suffer from seizures due to epilepsy, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. A photo of him walking into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse while testifying as a defense witness in trial of Michael Madigan also showed that Acevedo used a walker during this time.