Walter Burnett Jr.

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Walter Burnett Jr.
Burnett in 2015
9th Vice Mayor of Chicago
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 15, 2023
MayorBrandon Johnson
Preceded byTom Tunney
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 27th ward
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 1995
Preceded byDexter Watson
Personal details
Born (1963-08-16) August 16, 1963 (age 61)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1991)​
Children2, Jawaharial (stepson)
EducationHarold Washington College
University of Illinois, Chicago
Southeastern Illinois College
Northeastern Illinois University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Walter Burnett Jr. (born August 16, 1963) is an American politician who has served as the alderman for Chicago's 27th ward since his first election in 1995. The 27th ward includes the West Loop, Greektown, East Garfield Park, Near North Side, Old Town, West Humboldt Park, West Town, Goose Island and the Illinois Medical District.[1] As of 2023 he is the vice mayor of Chicago.

Early life and education

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Walter Burnett, Jr. was born August 16, 1963, at Cook County Hospital in the Illinois Medical District.[2][3] Burnett served two years in jail for armed bank robbery in Kankakee.[4]

Political career

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Burnett had an 11-year career working for the Cook County government, where he had a variety of jobs including working as special assistant to Jesse White who was then Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Burnett later worked on Jesse White's campaign for Illinois Secretary of State.[3] In 2023, Gregory Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business described Burnett as being a protege of White.[5]

Aldermanic career

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Burnett in 2014

Despite a 1993 Illinois state law that barred those convicted of a felony from holding local office, in 1995 Burnett ran for alderman in the newly redistricted 27th ward.[4] Burnett defeated Dexter Watson, a protege of Rickey R. Hendon who had been appointed to succeed Hendon after Hendon's election to the Illinois Senate.[3] Burnett has subsequently been reelected in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.

In 2018, J. B. Pritzker appointed Burnett to the gubernatorial transition's Restorative Justice and Safe Communities Committee.[6]

Ahead of the 2011 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett was one of several black Chicago political figures involved in talks to have three black contenders choose a "consensus" black candidate to rally around. These talks led Congressman Danny Davis and State Senator James Meeks to withdraw from the election and endorse the candidacy of Carol Moseley Braun, a former United States Senator and ambassador, as the "consensus" black candidate.[7] In the runoff of the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett endorsed Toni Preckwinkle against Lori Lightfoot.[8] In the initial round of the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot for reelection.[9] After Lightfoot was eliminated in the 2023 election's first round, Burnett endorsed Paul Vallas in the runoff.[10]

After becoming mayor in 2023, Brandon Johnson selected Burnett to serve as vice mayor. Unlike previous vice mayors, for whom the position was mostly-ceremonial and had no budget, Johnson reorganized the position for Burnett to have a $400,000 budget and act as an official community liaison for the mayoral administration.[11]

Personal life

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Alderman Burnett is married to Darlena Williams-Burnett. Williams-Burnett was appointed as a Cook County commissioner from the 1st district, being appointed after Danny K. Davis resigned in 1997 to serve in the United States Congress. She was defeated in her campaign for a full term in 1998. Williams-Burnett challenged incumbent 7th district U.S. congressman Danny K. Davis in the 2010 Democratic primary and lost.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ Lulay, Stephanie (2015-02-24). "Longtime Ald. Walter Burnett Wins 27th Ward Election, Landing Sixth Term". DNAinfo.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  2. ^ "About Me - Facebook". Facebook.
  3. ^ a b c Dumke, Mick (2012-01-09). "The making of an alderman". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  4. ^ a b "Criminal Past A Shadow New Alderman Just Can't Shed". Chicago Tribune. 1995-04-30. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  5. ^ Hinz, Greg (5 March 2023). "The week ahead: Mayoral runoff campaigns hit full speed". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. ^ Miller, Rich (November 30, 2018). "Foxx, Gordon-Booth, Kelly to co-chair Pritzker's Restorative Justice and Safe Communities Committee". Capitol Fax. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Multiple Sources:
  8. ^ "Toni Preckwinkle gets nods from Jesse White, Walter Burnett in push for city's black voters". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. ^ Mercado, Melody; Dumke, Mick. "Ald. Walter Burnett Endorses Paul Vallas In Mayoral Runoff". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  10. ^ Neveau, James (14 December 2022). "An Endorsement Guide to the 2023 Chicago Municipal Elections".
  11. ^ Multiple sources
  12. ^ Dumke, Mick (2010-01-28). "Congressman Danny Davis Faces Some Real Opposition For Once". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  13. ^ Banchero, Stephanie (12 February 1998). "DAVIS FACING A CHALLENGE IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
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