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Walter Burnett to Step Down From City Council as CHA CEO Contender

His planned exit will prompt a mayoral appointment for his 27th Ward seat, with a CHA board vote expected later this month on the authority’s next CEO.

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Vice Mayor Walter Burnett introduces Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson during a press conference announcing a new venue on June 26, 2025, in Chicago. The announcement was made in conjunction with World Business Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. confirmed he will resign his 27th Ward seat at the end of July regardless of whether he becomes CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority.
  • Mayor Brandon Johnson has named Burnett one of three finalists to lead the CHA, praising his rare lived experience in public housing.
  • Burnett hopes Mayor Johnson will appoint his 29-year-old son, Walter R. Burnett, to succeed him in the 27th Ward.
  • With 30 years on the City Council—including roles as vice mayor and zoning committee chair—Burnett brings four decades of policymaking and personal ties to Rockwell Gardens and Cabrini Green.
  • He cited the recent death of his mother and his wife’s encouragement as key factors in his decision to step away and refocus on family life.