Statement by Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Commending Mayor Brandon Johnson on Promoting Dr. Christina Pacione-Zayas to Chief of Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2024
CHICAGO - On behalf of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus, we commend Mayor Brandon Johnson for promoting Dr. Christina Pacione-Zayas to the important role of Chief of Staff. In this important role, Dr. Pacione-Zayas will help to oversee vital administrative functions, policy and intergovernmental affairs. This is a great step for Latino parity in top leadership of the future Mayor’s Office.
In April 2023, Pacione-Zayas was hired to be the First Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Johnson. She was appointed to the State Senate in 2020 to replace Iris Martinez, who vacated the Northwest Side seat after being elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Dr. Pacione-Zayas was then elected to the Senate in 2022. She previously held education policy roles at various nonprofits and was a co-chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda, a consortium of Puerto Rican community groups centered in Humboldt Park.
With Dr. Pacione-Zayas invaluable experience, she will help to build a city administration rooted in excellence and inclusion thereby lifting-up residents, strengthening our public schools, and fostering safer communities. We thank Dr. Pacione Zayas for saying yes to this challenging and fundamental role and we look forward to collaborating in making our city better together.
The City Council Latino Caucus includes 15 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chair Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) and Vice-Chair Andre Vasquez (40), the Caucus membership includes: Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1), Ald. Peter Chico (10), Ald. Julia Ramirez (12), Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez (14), Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Ald. Silvana Tabares (23), Ald. Bryon Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26), Ald. Ruth Cruz (30), Ald. Felix Cardona (31), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36). Chicago’s Clerk Anna Valencia is an ex-officio member of the Latino Caucus and Latino Caucus Foundation.
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