Overview

• Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. announced he will resign his 27th Ward seat by the end of July regardless of the CHA appointment outcome.
• Mayor Brandon Johnson has shortlisted him as one of three finalists to be the next Chicago Housing Authority CEO, emphasizing his deep connection to public housing.
• Burnett’s upbringing in Rockwell Gardens and Cabrini Green and his 1998 pardon for a teenage armed robbery conviction inform his commitment to expanding homeownership and mentoring tenants.
• He has outlined plans to partner with private sector allies and mentoring programs to promote self-sufficiency among CHA residents and boost homeownership.
• His departure will leave vacancies for 27th Ward alderman, vice mayor, and Zoning Committee chair that Mayor Johnson must fill.