ENTERED OFFICE: 1991, defeating incumbent Bob Clarke
PREVIOUS LIFE: City lawyer
WHY HE'S SMILING: Won with 72 percent of the vote after a razor-thin runoff win in 2007
WHY THE DIFFERENCE: Rogers Park foes waved a white flag and said, "You win, Joe."
GREATEST REGRET: Voting for the meter deal
PROSPECTS: Daley and the meter money are gone—but Joe's still there
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