About Jay Paul
Jay Paul Deratany is an accomplished attorney, progressive activist and proven reformer whose underdog 2008 run for Cook County Board of Review against the Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party garnered him widespread public and editorial support for taking on the Cook County machine. If chosen to serve as 10th District Cook County Commissioner, Deratany would make history as the first openly gay member of the Cook County Board. He will push a reform agenda that attacks waste, bloat, patronage and inefficiency in Cook County government.
A DePaul Law School graduate, Jay Paul Deratany founded his law practice, The Deratany Firm, to help people combat injustice and subjugation by big business. He has been voted one of Chicago’s best lawyers for three consecutive years. His devotion to social justice and helping people extends into his personal life. He has performed extensive volunteer work as a past board member of the Perspectives Charter School. His work included chairing their benefit committee, speaking at the school and helping in the budgetary process which allowed the school to expand to other locations.
Deratany is also a past member of the Chicago House Board. Working with other community activists, he started a private/public corporation which helps employ individuals who have difficulty gaining employment, such as people with HIV and those who have been homeless. This corporation, “Sweet Miss Givings“, is currently operating successfully and sells baked goods from its factory. Deratany has also served as legal counsel for Chicago House, providing pro bono services for the organization over the years.
In addition to serving on their Board, Deratany performed extensive pro-Bono legal work for Community Support Services and earned the organization’s solo-recipient Ekroth Award for community service in helping children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Deratany won a federal settlement of a suit against the Village of Summit because of their discriminatory practices against several women with disabilities, opening the way for CSS to build a group disabled access home for these women.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Deratany volunteered with AIDS organizations to provide pro bono legal services to those dying of AIDS. He went to individuals’ homes and helped with “end of life” legal issues to provide them with some sense of solace during difficult times.
Deratany is currently on the Howard Brown Health Center Board of Directors. Howard Brown Health Center serves Chicagoans with HIV/AIDs and also provides excellent care for women, including breast cancer screenings and consultations. He is Chair of the Benefit committee for Cabrini Green Legal Aid and continues to serve as a volunteer lawyer providing legal services for CGLA clients.
Deratany is also a frequent charitable giver and supporter of many causes, including Community Support Services, Chicago House, Howard Brown, Greenpeace, Oxfam, CURE (Research for epilepsy) and several human rights organizations.
From his experience in the community, Jay Paul Deratany knows firsthand how Cook County government fails the residents it purports to serve, and knows the remedies that can change the system so that it finally works for both taxpayers and vulnerable members of our community. Jay has the experience to balance the Cook County budget to ensure services for our most underserved and not increase taxes.
