Press Release – Lightfoot administration announces picks for City Council committee chairs

CHICAGO (May 17, 2019)– Mayor-elect Lori E. Lightfoot announced her proposal for City Council committee leadership on Friday.

“Chicagoans expect us to deliver on our commitment to end the old way of doing business in City Council, and this proposal will begin to chart that course,” said Mayor-elect Lightfoot. “We worked hard to ensure diversity in committee leadership, and to empower aldermen who will help achieve our mission of a more transparent and accountable City Council.”

The proposal includes:

• Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) as chair of the Committee on Finance
• Ald. Pat Dowell (3) as chair of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations
• Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) as chair of the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
• Ald. Tom Tunney (44) as chair of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
• Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) as chair of the Committee on Workforce Development
• Ald. Howard Brookins (21) as chair of the Committee on Transportation and Public Way
• Ald. Michelle Harris (8) as chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules
• Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27) as chair of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
• Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38) as chair of the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation
• Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24) as chair of the Committee on Education and Child Development
• Ald. Matthew O’Shea (19) as the chair of Committee on Aviation
• Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety
• Ald. Harry Osterman (48) as the chair of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate
• Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6) as the chair of the Committee on Health and Human Relations (formerly the Committee on Human Relations)
• Ald. George Cárdenas (12) as chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (formerly Committee on Health and Environmental Protection)
• Ald. Emma Mitts (37) as chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection

The proposal includes several changes to the committee structure, including the creation of a new Committee on Ethics and Good Governance with Ald. Michele Smith (43) as chair; the creation of a Committee on Public Health and Human Relations and a Committee on Environment and Energy, which were previously one combined committee; and the creation of a Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity to focus on matters relating to minority and women-owned business contracting, with Ald. Carrie Austin as chair (34).

“These City Council committees are a reflection of my administration’s priorities, and I ask that aldermen rally around them and work with me to realize a vision of a safe, healthy and equitable city for all,” said Mayor-elect Lightfoot. “I am grateful to the aldermen who have agreed to stand up and lead the way forward with me.”

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) will serve as President Pro Tempore while Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) will serve as Floor Leader. Ald. Tom Tunney (44) will serve as Vice Mayor.

Ald. Villegas, who is the outgoing chair of the City Council’s Latino Caucus, will be the first Latino City Council floor leader in Chicago history.

Mayor-elect Lightfoot has spoken to all the proposed chairs in recent days.

Aldermen will vote on the proposed committee leadership structure at the May 29th City Council meeting.