DOLTON | Dolton Mayor William "Bill" Shaw died Wednesday after a four-year battle with cancer. He was 71.

Village spokesman Sean Howard said in a statement that Shaw died at his Dolton home.

Shaw was elected as mayor of Dolton in 1997, and replaced the late Donald Hart, who chose not to seek re-election. Prior to that, in 1982, Shaw was elected to the first of five terms as an Illinois state representative of the 34th District. He then served as a state senator from the 15th District until he was defeated in 2002.

As a senator, Shaw co-sponsored legislation that made it mandatory African-American history be taught in Illinois public schools.

Rumors of Shaw's failing health have been swirling in political circles for months, but no formal announcement had been made about the severity of the condition.

Shaw is a cancer survivor and has spoken publicly of his battles with the disease in the past. He began his current term in office on Election Day 2005 on an operating table, undergoing emergency colon surgery.

For years, Shaw and his twin brother Robert -- a former Cook County Commissioner and Chicago alderman -- controlled much of the political landscape in the south suburbs and the city's South Side. The pair backed many other elected officials in the south suburbs, helping them get elected by endorsements and financial backing.

That began to change in 2000, when David Miller -- a candidate backed by U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. -- beat Shaw-backed incumbent Willis Harris for the 29th District House race.

Bill Shaw served as both senator and Dolton mayor for five years until 2002, when he was ousted from his senate seat of more than 20 years by the Rev. James Meeks, also backed by Jackson.

Two years later, another Jackson-backed candidate, Larry Rogers Jr., beat Robert Shaw for the 3rd District Cook County Board of Review.

In addition to his brother, William Shaw is survived by a son, Victor Shaw.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.