Latest news with #35thWard
Chicago Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Democrats pick new Cook County Board member for NW Side seat
Rounding out a series of promotions for 35th Ward progressives, Democrats from Chicago's Northwest Side appointed Jessica Vásquez to fill a vacancy on the Cook County Board for the next 18 months. The shuffle started when Mayor Brandon Johnson elevated Carlos Ramirez-Rosa from the Chicago City Council to become CEO of the Chicago Park District. Johnson then tapped Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada to replace Ramirez-Rosa on the City Council last month. Vásquez will replace Quezada representing the 8th District on the county board. Ramirez-Rosa's former chief of staff at City Hall, Vásquez was a frontrunner for the county post from the moment Ramirez-Rosa kicked off the musical chairs by taking the Park District job. She beat out four other applicants during a Sunday meeting at Avondale-Logandale Elementary School of Democratic committeepeople whose wards overlap with the 8th district. As 35th Ward Democratic committeeman, Ramirez-Rosa led the selection process. Vásquez drummed up support from several progressive allies and local organizations heading into the process and was greeted by applause and cheers as she spoke at Sunday's meeting. After candidate interviews concluded, Quezada said he was 'proud that this community, this movement, has nominated Jessica Vásquez,' and shot back at critics who complained progressives were 'installing their own person.' 'They didn't say that when they installed a state representative or the former state senator. They didn't say it then. They had every opportunity to organize a community-led process this time around,' Quezada said. She beat out Logan Laurie, who founded a nonprofit to fix up urban skateparks and now works as a staff assistant to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; Ray Doeksen, a designer and retired Army captain; Joanne Fehn, a bureau chief in the Illinois Attorney General's Office; and Enrique Morales, a policy researcher and founder of an arts nonprofit. Morales was the only other candidate to receive final votes, from 1st Ward committeeperson Laura Yepes, 31st Ward committeeperson Felix Cardona, and a proxy for 36th Ward committeeman Gilbert Villegas. Vásquez is the first woman to represent the 8th District on the county board, according to a release announcing her appointment, and also tilts the 17-member board to be majority women for the first time. 'I'm deeply humbled and grateful to the Committeepeople and community members who placed their trust in me,' Vásquez said in the release. Vásquez was born and raised in Belmont Cragin and lives in Logan Square. She studied political science and social sciences at DePaul and the University of Chicago, worked for three years as an external relations associate for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and began working for Ramirez-Rosa in 2017. Her most recent position was running the City Council's Zoning Committee. She intends to run for the county seat in the 2026 election, according to a release. In her application to the appointment committee, Vásquez said her focus would include 'advocating for property tax reform to prevent working families from being displaced, protecting and fully funding our Cook County Health hospitals and clinics, and practicing collaborative governance by working hand-in-hand with elected officials and community organizations to ensure that policies are rooted in the needs and priorities of the people we serve.'
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Chicago City Council approves Anthony Quezada as 35th Ward alderman in special meeting
The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson's pick to be the next 35th Ward alderman at a special meeting Monday. Alderman Anthony Quezada was all smiles after being confirmed in the special council meeting Monday afternoon. He replaces Carols Ramirez-Rosa as the representative for the Northwest Side ward. Quezada was one of two candidates interviewed by the mayor's search committee, which included several 35th Ward community leaders. Five people applied for the job, but only two submitted complete applications – Quezada and Daniel Tobon, an entrepreneur and Army veteran. The hearing was surprisingly contentious. Eleven councilmembers voted against Quezada's confirmation, objecting to the plum assignments on the budget and finance committee he will inhering from his predecessor. Ramirez-Rosa stepped down as alderman last month after Johnson chose him as the new head of the Chicago Park District . Before he was elected as a Cook County Commissioner in 2022, Quezada served for six years as Ramirez-Rosa's constituent service director. He was also the 35th Ward Democratic Committeeman from 2020 to 2022. Quezada was the youngest and first openly gay Latino to be elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners when he was elected in 2022.
Axios
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Ald. Quezada confirmed amid racial discussions
The City Council confirmed Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada on Monday in a 32-11 vote to replace Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (now Parks CEO) in the 35th Ward. Why it matters: Quezada's confirmation process sparked frank discussions about racial language after an 11-year-old social media post, in which Quezada used the N-word to refer to friends, surfaced. Last month, Quezada, 29 and the youngest current alder, issued a statement saying he regretted the post, written when he was 18. Some alders accepted the apology, but others did not. What they're saying: "If I had an affair with Beyoncé and Jay Z catches me … I would regret that Jay Z came in there, but you will never hear me say I'm sorry for sleeping with Beyoncé because I wouldn't be," Ald. David Moore said, explaining his rejection of Quezada's statement. There's "a difference between regretting writing something down and being godly sorry — godly sorry — for hurting a group of people." The other side: Several other Black council members, including Emma Mitts, came out in support of Quezada, who was tapped for the seat by Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying, "I've been called all kinds of names and it don't make no difference as long as you treat me right, treat me as a human being." Between the lines: Mayoral appointees often draw unanimous confirmation votes from the council. The split vote reflects continuing divisions in the body. Some alders even objected to Quezada's automatic placement in his predecessor's committee slots. Quezada's take: "I understand why my council colleagues took the votes that they did. I do not hold it against them," he said after the council meeting.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson taps Cook County commissioner for vacant council seat
The Brief Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada has been tapped to fill the vacant alderman seat representing the 35th Ward on the City Council. The vacancy came about after former Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa resigned to take over as CEO of the Chicago Park District. CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson selected Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada (8th District) to fill the vacant City Council seat representing the 35th Ward. What we know The vacancy was created after former Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, a Johnson ally, resigned to take over the Chicago Park District as general superintendent and CEO. This week was Ramirez-Rosa's first on the job. He was first elected to the City Council in 2015. Quezada was first elected to the Cook County Board in 2022 and has served as the vice chair of the Labor and Contract Compliance committees. He is the first openly gay Latino commissioner elected to the board, according to his campaign website. During his tenure, he introduced and passed the county's paid leave ordinance, expanded dental health services across the county and secured $1.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds for infrastructure improvements on Fullerton Avenue, according to a news release. What they're saying Johnson praised Quezada in a statement on Wednesday. "The 35th Ward deserves a progressive champion with a proven track record to lead in this moment," said Johnson said in the statement. "Anthony is a lifelong Chicagoan who embodies the values of the 35th Ward, and I have no doubt that he will be a tremendous advocate for his community. I want to thank the 35th Ward Civic Committee for their recommendation and all of the candidates who answered the call by putting their names forward to serve." Quezada said he was "honored to receive this appointment to represent the people of the 35th Ward as our next alderman. Our neighborhoods deserve bold, principled leadership, and I am ready to continue building a ward and city that prioritizes working families, strengthens public services, and empowers our neighbors." What's next A special City Council meeting is scheduled for next Monday to officially appoint Quezada to the City Council.
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint Cook County commissioner to City Council
Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to name Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada as his choice to succeed Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa on the City Council, sources in the mayor's office confirmed Wednesday. His choice to represent Logan Square and other Northwest Side neighborhoods is scheduled to be considered by the City Council at a special meeting Monday. Johnson declined to confirm his choice on Tuesday, but said time was of the essence in the appointment process to respond to 'attacks that are coming from the federal government as we push back and stand up to the Trump administration.' Quezada getting the nod is no surprise. He previously worked for Ramirez-Rosa, who resigned this month to accept a gig running the Chicago Park District. United Neighbors of the 35th Ward, the organization both belong to, endorsed Quezada. So did the five-person committee Johnson named to choose among six applicants for the position. The appointment will be Johnson's first as mayor and will require a simple majority of City Council to approve. The vote is typically a formality where fellow council members rubber stamp the mayor's choice. Daniel Tobon, one of the six applicants, shared little confidence in his appointment prospects last month. An army veteran and former attorney who now works in the cannabis industry, Tobon said when the selection committee interviewed him last weekend, he aired concerns about the group's close relationships with Quezada. Two members came from Palenque LSNA, which has worked closely with Ramirez-Rosa's office on affordable housing in the ward. 'It does seem like this was hastily put together for you all to recommend Anthony,' he said he told his interviewers. The group's questions were 'hostile,' and the process itself was 'anti-democratic,' Tobon said. Johnson should have more simply appointed Quezada if that was always the pick, he added. Only two weeks passed between Ramirez-Rosa's appointment to the Park District and the due date for applications for the role.'They were clearly there just to create the facade of propriety. It is really sad,' Tobon said. 'The whole process was basically engineered to give it an air of legitimacy it doesn't deserve.' Asked Tuesday why Chicagoans should believe the process wasn't a rubber stamp, Johnson said 'Every mayor has enjoyed the responsibility of appointing someone that reflects the values of that particular community. I will do the same.' While Quezada would theoretically have a leg up on challengers if he runs for a full term representing the 35th Ward in 2027, some recent aldermanic appointees have found ties to unpopular mayors troublesome come election time. Two of the four people Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed to the City Council last term lost their bids to retain their seats. The son of a father who immigrated to the U.S. without legal permission, Quezada is familiar with ward politics: his first experience in elected office came in 2015 as an intern for former 1st Ward Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno. He quit the gig over what he said was Moreno's too-cozy relationship with real estate developers, he previously told the Tribune. After meeting Ramirez-Rosa during U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, Quezada went on to work in the 35th Ward office on constituent services from the summer of 2016 until 2022. That year, Quezada won a seat on the Cook County Board, becoming the county's first openly gay Latino commissioner, defeating incumbent Democrat Luis Arroyo Jr. in a five-way 2022 primary to represent the county's 8th District, which stretches across the city's Northwest Side. Quezada won 54% of the 35th Ward vote in that election and went on to become a Johnson ally during their brief overlap on the county board. While there, he helped pass the county's paid leave ordinance and worked to ensure the county public defender could provide legal representation to undocumented people in immigration court. Quezada's otherwise strong appointment bid was briefly challenged by the spread of a decade-old social media post he made using a racial slur. But Black aldermen signaled their willingness to forgive him after he apologized. To lay out how he might legislate in City Hall, the Democratic Socialist has pointed to his past. 'I have dedicated my life to uniting people, building working-class coalitions and fighting for a government and economy that works for all of us, not just the ultra-wealthy,' Quezada told the crowd at the United Neighbors endorsement meeting. Quezada's successor on the county board will be chosen by Democratic committeepeople that span his district. Ramirez-Rosa, whose ward makes up the biggest portion of the district, will carry the largest weighted vote and chair the selection committee. Ald. Ruth Cruz, the committeeperson for the 30th Ward, carries the next largest chunk, followed by Ald. Jesse Fuentes in the 26th Ward. The entire county board is up for re-election in 2026.
