User:Skier23/"Alma Anaya"

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Alma Anaya
Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
from the 7th district
Assumed office
December 3, 2018
Preceded byJesús "Chuy" García
Personal details
Born (1989-06-19) June 19, 1989 (age 34)
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Chicago (BA, MPA)
WebsiteCook County Board of Commissioners website

Alma E. Anaya (born June 19, 1989), is an American politician serving as the Cook County Commissioner for the 7th district. The district contains many neighborhoods in Chicago, including portions of the Lower West Side, South Lawndale, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn, West Elsdon, and West Lawn community areas. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career[edit]

Anaya was born June 19, 1989 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.[1][2] She was the oldest of four siblings, including two sisters and a brother.[1][3][4] At the age of 6, Anaya's family immigrated to the United States, where she initially lived as an undocumented immigrant.[1][5] Her family settled in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and Anaya later attended Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy.[6][7][8]

During her time at Gwendolyn Brooks, Anaya's parents divorced amidst domestic violence.[1][9] After their parents' separation, Anaya and her siblings were raised by their mother.[1][5][9] They experienced about a year without a home, living out of their mother's car and motel rooms.[1][5][9]

During her Junior year of high school, Anaya obtained legal status as a resident in the United States.[10] After graduating high school, Anaya obtained her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago.[2][11] Anaya obtained her U.S. Citizenship after obtaining her undergraduate degree.[10]

While working full-time in government and politics, Anaya obtained her Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018.[11][10][12] She was also named an inaugural Racial Equity Fellow by Chicago United for Equity and Edgar Fellow by the Institute of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.[11]

Political career[edit]

Entry into government and politics[edit]

In 2012, Anaya started her career in government as an assistant in the office of 7th district Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García.[13][14] In 2015, she took leave from Garcia's government office to join the executive team of his Mayoral campaign full time.[12] Later in 2015, Anaya was promoted to Director of Administration and worked on policy initiatives, the County budget and constituent services.[13][4]

2018 campaign[edit]

On November 28, 2017, just five days before the final day to file petitions to run in the 2018 election, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez announced that he would not run for reelection and endorsed 7th district Cook County Commissioner "Chuy" García for the seat.[15] García announced he was running for the seat on the same day and endorsed 22nd ward Alderman Ricardo Muñoz in the 7th district Cook County Commissioner election.[15][16] Alex Acevedo, son of former state Representative Edward Acevedo, and Angeles Sandoval, daughter of state Senator Martin Sandoval, also filed to run.[16][17] On December 3, 2017, Anaya announced her decision to run for County Commissioner.[14][13] Later that week, Muñoz dropped out of the race and he and García both endorsed Anaya.[13][9] García later made his endorsement of Anaya, along with his endorsements of Aaron Ortiz and Beatriz Frausto-Sandoval, part of a political slate of progressive Southwest Side Latino candidates in Chicago.[9][18] Alex Acevedo also dropped out of the race and endorsed Angeles Sandoval, leaving only Anaya and Sandoval in the race.[19] Sandoval was also endorsed and financially backed by her father and state Senator Antonio Munoz, receiving $55,000 of contributions from each.[9][20][2]

Anaya made her personal story as someone who was formerly undocumented and homeless a part of her campaign.[9] During the campaign, she spoke at a rally for Senator Bernie Sanders.[21] Both Anaya and Sandoval attempted to connect their opponent to machine politics.[2] Sandoval tried to connect Anaya to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan through a Madigan campaign mailer and Anaya pointed out that Sandoval's largest support comes from her father and his political allies and tried to connect Sandoval to Alderman Ed Burke through a donation from his brother state Representative Dan Burke to Sandoval.[2] Anaya also called for an investigation of certain donations of over $750 to Sandoval's campaign that she alleged came from companies with Cook County contracts, which would be in violation of Cook County ordinance.[2] Late in the campaign, parts of the district received attack mailers against Anaya, some of which included nativist themes such as, "Alma Anaya isn't from here."[9]

On March 20, 2018, Anaya received 56.85% of the vote (14,159) to Sandoval's 42.81% (10,664), winning the Democratic primary.[22] She went on to win the November 6, 2018 general election unopposed.[23]

Cook County Commissioner[edit]

Tenure[edit]

Committee assignments[edit]

As a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Deer serves on multiple committees of both the Board of Commissioners and the Forest Preserve District Board.[24]

Cook County Board of Commissioners committee memberships

  • Asset Management
  • Business and Economic Development (Vice Chair)
  • Contract Compliance
  • Criminal Justice
  • Emergency Management and Regional Security
  • Finance
  • Health and Hospitals
  • Human Relations
  • Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations
  • Pension (Vice Chair)
  • Transportation
  • Zoning and Building
  • Workforce, Housing & Community Development

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board committee memberships

  • Audit (Chair)
  • Botanic Garden
  • Contract Compliance
  • Finance
  • Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations
  • Real Estate (Chair)
  • Recreation

Electoral history[edit]

7th District Cook County Commissioner Democratic Primary, 2018[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alma E. Anaya 14,159 56.85
Democratic Angeles Sandoval 10,664 42.81
Democratic Write-In 85 0.34
Total votes 24,908 100
7th District Cook County Commissioner Election, 2018[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alma E. Anaya 41,759 100.00
Total votes 41,759 100

Personal life[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Blumberg, Nick (February 19, 2018). "Alma Anaya: Candidate for Cook County Commissioner, 7th District". WTTW. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Serrato, Jacqueline (March 9, 2018). "Two Mexican-American women fight for a county seat in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "About Commissioner Anaya". Alma E. Anaya, Cook County Commissioner. Retrieved October 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b "Cook County Commmisioner Alma Anaya to Deliver Welcome Remarks". United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Oprea, Mark (March 6, 2020). "Fighting For a Fair Census in 2020". Belt Magazine. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Alma Anaya". Latinos Progresando. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  7. ^ "Conoce más sobre las propuestas de Alma Anaya, candidata al puesto de comisionada por el Distrito 7". Univision Chicago (in Spanish). Chicago, Illinois. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  8. ^ "Primary Elections Are Happening All Over The Country Right Now. Here's What You Should Know About These Elections". Mitú. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Meet the trio of young Latino 'Berniecrats' who shocked the Chicago political establishment on election night". Chicago Reader. Chicago, Illinois. March 23, 2018. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "CHANGE MAKERS". UIC Alumni Association. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "JULY 20: 7:30pm - Chicago and Cook County: Today and Moving Forward". Cooked. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "UIC MPA STUDENT ELECTED AS COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER". DPA Dispatch. UIC Department of Public Administration. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Hadac, Joan (December 8, 2017). "Pols jockey for position in post-Gutiérrez era". Southwest Community News Group. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved February 23, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b Ahern, Mary Ann (December 3, 2017). "Candidates Scrambling to File Petitions Ahead of Deadline". WMAQ-TV. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Sfondeles, Tina (November 28, 2017). "Gutierrez to begin next chapter—and it's not Congress, mayor, governor". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Morning Spin: Gutierrez federal pension estimated at $62,000 a year". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. November 29, 2017. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "Morning Spin: Senate's tax plan approval is news to Rauner". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. December 5, 2017. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  18. ^ Dudek, Mitch (January 4, 2018). "Garcia's Latino slate includes rookie candidate taking on state Rep. Dan Burke". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved February 23, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Morning Spin: Rauner calls Republican federal tax overhaul 'punishing' to Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. January 4, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Miller, Rich (January 14, 2018). "MILLER: How Chicago sausage is made when progressives take on regulars". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bernie Sanders: The 'political revolution' is well under way in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Chicago, Illinois. February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; November 9, 2020 suggested (help)
  22. ^ a b "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  24. ^ "Cook County Board of Commissioners - Alma Anaya". Cook County Government. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

External links[edit]


Category:Living people Category:1989 births Category:University of Illinois Chicago alumni Category:21st-century American politicians Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Illinois Democrats Category:Hispanic and Latino American people in Illinois politics Category:American politicians of Mexican descent Category:Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Category:Politicians from Guadalajara, Jalisco Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Women in Illinois politics Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics Category:People with acquired American citizenship Category:Undocumented immigrants to the United States

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