Birthday

John Cox was born on July 15, 1955, in Chicago, Ill.

Education

Cox received his bachelor’s degree accounting and political science from the University of Illinois-Chicago and, in 1980, obtained his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law.

RELIGION

Catholic

PRIVATE Practice and business experience

Cox worked at the law firm Coopers and Lybrand from 1980 to 1981. He then founded his own practice, John H. Cox and Associates Ltd., in 1981, where he still works. He also founded Cox Financial Group Ltd. in 1985 and Equity Property Management in 1995, and still works for both. In addition to these businesses, Cox has opened a chapter of the charitable organization Rebuilding Together, and he recruited a board to form the North Suburban Chicago Chapter of Christmas in April. He has served on the boards of the American Cancer Society, Boys Hope/Girls Hope and United Charities. He currently sits on the board of the United Service Organizations and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation.

Public service and government experience

Cox has served as president of the Cook County Republican Party in Illinois, a local school board, a zoning board and, in 1988, the steering committee for former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp’s presidential campaign. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He also ran for the Illinois State Senate in 2002 and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 2004, hoping to eliminate the office upon election. He was not elected to either of these positions.

Declared candidacy

Cox was the first Republican to officially declare his candidacy in early March.

Family life

Cox and his wife Sarah have four children: Sarah, Stephanie, Shannon and Julianne.