Michael Kenna (politician)

Michael "Hinky Dink" Kenna (1858-1946) was First Ward Alderman in Chicago from 1897-1923.

When Kenna was 10, he left school and began to sell newspapers. When he was 12, he borrowed fifty dollars from a barkeeper and purchased a newsstand at Monroe and Dearborn Streets. He was so successful he was able to pay back the loan within a month. According to legend, it was at this time that Kenna got his nickname from Chicago Tribune publisher Joseph Medill because of Kenna's small stature.

In addition to working as an alderman, Kenna ran a tavern, the Workingman's Exchange, located on Clark Street. Kenna would trade meals to the indigent in exchange for votes.

Kenna and his partner, fellow first ward alderman "Bathhouse" John Coughlin, were known as the "Lords of the Levee," a district included in their ward which provided them with the support of prostitutes, pimps, tavern-owners, and gamblers.

Coughlin and Kenna's best-known activity was the first ward ball, an annual fundraiser which brought together safecrackers, prostitutes, politicians, businessmen, gamblers, and others. The event raised more than $50,000 a year for the two men until it was closed down in 1909 by Mayor Fred Busse. By the time it ended, the ball had moved into the Chicago Coliseum and ended in annual riots.

In 1923, the number of aldermen per ward was lowered from two to one, and Kenna stepped aside to become a ward committeeman, leaving the alderman's position for the first ward to his partner. It should be noted that Aldermen are elected by their constituents and are paid a salary while Committeeman are elected by precinct captains and are paid from the coffers of their political party. Hinky Dink remained first ward committeeman until his death at age 89 in 1946.

Although he left his heirs an estate worth over one million dollars, and left $33,000 for a mausoleum for his remains to repose in, his heirs took all of the money and bought him an eighty-five dollar tombstone instead.