1980-1989: The rise of Costello

The decade of the 1980s belonged to Jerry Costello.

During the 10 years, Costello rocketed from director of St. Clair County Probation and Court Services to U.S. Congressman, capitalizing on political and organizational ability that few credited him with at the beginning.

Costello is a Belleville Democrat who father Dan Costello was once an Illinois state lawmaker and St. Clair County sheriff and treasurer.

Jerry Costello quietly lobbied for a new state law, which would allow the county to elect a board chairman who wasn't already a member of the county board.

Then in 1980, he surprised many veteran political observers by coming from nowhere to run unopposed in the board chairman race.

Once in office he began immediately to consolidate his power and to build a power base. He took strong stands on how the county government should work.

He became chairman of the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, a group that worked to establish cooperation between the St. Louis and Illinois sides of the Mississippi River.

He also filed a libel suit against the Belleville News-Democrat in 1981 after an editorial accused him of lying. Although he won the initial verdict and one appeal, a judgment of millions of dollars in damages was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court more than seven years later.

Costello's main setback during the decade was an aborted attempt in 1983 to challenge long-time U.S. Rep. Melvin Price. Costello said Price no longer was physically able to aggressively represent the district.

But Costello later backed off his effort and Price remained in office until his death in 1988.

On Aug. 9, 1988, Costello won a special election to fill Price's seat by 3 percentage points, aided by a landslide effort in East St. Louis that more than offset his loss in outer St. Clair County.

Costello then handily won the regular election in November 1988.