James A. Machinis, 86, whose career with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spanned 40 years and a few controversial elections, died Monday, Nov. 27, at Heartland Nursing Home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Born on Chicago’s South Side to Greek immigrants, Mr. Machinis graduated from Englewood High School and became active in 38th Ward politics with the influential Cullerton family, his daughter, Sandra, said. In the early 1940s he got a job at City Hall working for the Board of Election Commissioners, eventually rising to assistant chief clerk and director of the absentee ballot department. His friend James M. Mezilson said Mr. Machinis was an outgoing man who strove to help others and had many friends at City Hall. “Jim was very friendly with all the department heads,” he said. “Everybody knew Jimmy,” said William Rummell, former chief clerk of the election board. In 1972 Mr. Machinis testified before a federal grand jury that was questioning election officials about allegations of vote fraud. Mr. Machinis was never accused of any wrongdoing. His daughter said he was a Democratic Party loyalist who kept its secrets until the day he died. Several years ago, he turned down a professor’s request for an interview about the city election board during the John Kennedy-Richard Nixon election, she said. Rummell said: “We were all loyal party members. … We were organization people.” In the early 1980s Mr. Machinis served for a year as a consultant to Mayor Jane Byrne. He was active in local Greek-American organizations and was a longtime member of St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Mr. Machinis also is survived by a granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 11025 S. Roberts Rd., Palos Hills.
