reform, U.S. Senator Barack Obama endorsed Tillman in her 2007 election noting she was an early supporter of his. Although she had the backing of Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley, Tillman was not able to achieve a majority of votes in Chicago's non-partisan aldermanic election in February 2007. As a result, Tillman stood in a runoff election against challenger Pat Dowell. Dowell took 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Tillman. During a heated debate between Tillman and Dowell on April 3, 2007, Dowell charged Tillman with failing to produce business growth beyond the street corner where her ward office was located and stated "I will be the change agent," after which Tillman's daughter (and political staffer) shouted out "A white man agent!" Personal Tillman has been married once and has five children. Tillman married Jimmy Lee Tillman, a musician circa 1967. Together they had five children including Jimmy Lee Tillman Jr. (b. 1968) who ran for U.S. Congress in 2014, and Ebony Tillman who challenged third ward alderman Pat Dowell in 2011. In October 2008 Tillman was convicted for criminal trespassing at an Alabama hospital in March 2008. A dispute over medical records escalated and the police were called. Tillman claims she was brutalized by the police. She was fined and received a suspended sentence. Her lawyer stated that an appeal is planned. The charge was eventually dropped as part of a settlement with the hospital. See also List of Chicago aldermen since 1923 References External links History makers biography of Dorothy Tillman Chicago City Council page 1947 births Activists for African-American civil rights Reparations for slavery African-American city council members in Illinois Chicago City Council members Illinois Democrats Living people African-American women in politics Women city councillors in Illinois Selma to Montgomery marches