Martin J. Oberman

Marty Oberman
Official portrait, 2019
Chair of the Surface Transportation Board
In office
January 21, 2021 – May 10, 2024
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byAnn Begeman[1]
Succeeded byRobert E. Primus[2]
Vice Chair of the Surface Transportation Board
In office
January 22, 2019 – January 21, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDeb Miller
Succeeded byRobert E. Primus[3]
Member of the Surface Transportation Board
In office
January 22, 2019 – May 10, 2024
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byDaniel R. Elliott III
Succeeded byvacant
Chairman of Metra
In office
February 11, 2014 – November 1, 2016
Preceded byBrad O’Halloran[4]
Succeeded byNorm Carlson[5]
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 43rd ward
In office
1975 (1975)–1987 (1987)
Preceded byWilliam Singer
Succeeded byEdwin Eisendrath
Personal details
Born (1945-04-23) April 23, 1945 (age 79)
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBonnie Oberman
Children2
Residence(s)Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materYale University (BA)
University of Wisconsin–Madison (JD)

Martin Jay Oberman (April 23, 1945) is an American government official and attorney who served as a member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) from 2019 to 2024 and as STB chair from 2021 to 2024. He previously served as the chair of the board of directors at Metra, the Chicago commuter rail system.[6]

Oberman was a Chicago City Councilman, representing the 43rd Ward from 1975 to 1987. During his tenure, he earned a reputation as a reform leader, committed to promoting transparency in key governing processes while also working to reduce government corruption and profligate spending.[7] He was an unsuccessful candidate for Illinois Attorney General in the 1982, 1986 and 1994 elections.

Early life and education

[edit]

Oberman's grandfather, Harry W. Oberman (March 25, 1888 – October 2, 1945), was born in Russia and immigrated to the United States in 1906.[8] Harry moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he married Oberman's grandmother Ida Oberman (nee Graonick) on June 20, 1909,[9] and opened a grocery store.

Oberman's father, M. D. "Mush" Oberman, born Morris Davis Oberman, married Oberman's mother, Sophia Oberman (nee Friedman), on October 8, 1939.[10] M. D. was active in Springfield community affairs, as well as being a supporter and organizer in the Republican Party.[11] Both Oberman's father and his grandfather were active in their local Jewish community, especially within the B'nai Abraham and B'nai B'rith synagogues.[9][12][13]

At the age of 13, Martin Oberman was appointed as a page in the United States House of Representatives.[14] Aside from the Capitol Page School, he attended Springfield's Butler Grade School, Springfield High School, and graduated valedictorian[citation needed] from Culver Military Academy in 1962. [15][14]

Oberman graduated from Yale University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts. During his time at Yale, he was a member of the freshman football team.[16] He then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he was a notes editor for the Wisconsin Law Review. He graduated in 1969 with a Juris Doctor and Order of the Coif honors.[6]

Public service and politics

[edit]

Early work

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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] [1]

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)

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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