Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson taps Cook County commissioner for vacant council seat

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson selected Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada (8th District) to fill the vacant City Council seat representing the 35th Ward.

Anthony Quezada

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.