Gidwitz, Ronald J.

Ronald J. Gidwitz, the chair of Salon 123, Inc. and President of GCG Partners as well as Riverbend Industries, is the former CEO of Helene Curtis and has served as the Chairman of the State Board of Education. Gidwitz is now the chairman of Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity and in 2003 founded Students First an organization involving education for Illinois children. He and a family trust have been linked to an apartment complex in Joliet that has drawn severe criticism from local officials. In 2006, Mr. Gidwitz sought and lost the Republican nomination for governor. Three-fifths of the funds for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign came from the candidate or his family.

Ronald Gidwitz is a career patron of former Attorney General Jim Ryan (R).

From 1993 to June 30, 2002, Ronald Gidwitz contributed 365,000 to candidates for Illinois statewide constitutional and legislative office, 97% of which went to Republicans.

Three-fifths of the funds for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign came from the candidate or his family.

Last revised June 2011.