Hubbry Logo
Gery ChicoGery ChicoMain
Open search
Gery Chico
Community hub
Gery Chico
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Gery Chico
Gery Chico
Gery Chico
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Gery J. Chico (/ˈɡɛri ˈtʃiːkoʊ/ GHERR-ee CHEE-koh; born August 24, 1956) is an American politician, lawyer, public official and former Democratic primary candidate to become the U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Key Information

Chico served as the Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley from 1992 to 1995, and board president of the Chicago Public Schools from 1995 to 2001. He was named Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education in 1997. From 2007 to 2010, he was board president of the Chicago Park District, and in 2010 he was board president of the City Colleges of Chicago. On June 7, 2011, Chico was named Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

Chico ran for Mayor of Chicago in the 2011 election, but was defeated by Rahm Emanuel. In late 2018, Chico declared a second bid for mayor in the 2019 election. After losing in the first round, he endorsed Lori Lightfoot.[2][3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Gery Chico was born on August 24, 1956,[4] to a Mexican-American father, Jesse, and a Greek-Lithuanian mother, Jacqueline (née Kopulos). With his two younger brothers, he grew up in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood.[5] His mother also worked as a secretary at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.[6] Chico attended a now-closed parochial school, Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Elementary School at 35th and Hermitage,[7] where he headed the altar boys and patrol boys, and also played baseball for two years. A hip injury kept him in a wheelchair during his freshman year at Thomas Kelly High School.[5]

Chico pursued a pre-medical degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, but after his sophomore year he transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago.[8] A political science major, he volunteered in the 11th Ward. He later secured an externship in the city's Department of Planning during his senior year,[5] and he worked there from 1977 to 1980. He received his bachelor's degree in 1978. From 1980 to 1987, he worked for the City Council Finance Committee.[9] Finance Committee chair Alderman Edward M. Burke promoted Chico to research manager, and he became senior research assistant for the Department of Planning and Economic Development.[10] At that time, he took night classes at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.[5] He earned his J.D. degree in 1985 and became a member of the Loyola Law Review.[9]

Chico has been married twice; his first wife was Jeryl Minow, with whom he had three daughters. He is currently married to Sunny Penedo Chico, who has a son and daughter from a previous marriage.[5][6] A former U.S. Department of Education employee, Sunny runs a consulting firm that focuses on, among others, tutoring services and curriculum advice.[11]

[edit]

Chico began working as an associate of the Chicago-based law firm Sidley Austin in 1987, and served as General Counsel to the Chicago Development Council, a real estate development association.[9] He left the firm in 1991 to become the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley,[5] but he later returned as partner in 1995 and 1996, leading the firm's practice related to state and local government.

In 1996, Chico left Sidley & Austin to become a senior partner of Altheimer & Gray.[9] Oscar D’Angelo, a friend of Daley and a former Altheimer partner, suggested to the firm’s managing partner that the firm hire Chico. In 2000, just four years later, at age 44, Chico became chairman of Altheimer. In 2002, the firm gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Governor Rod Blagojevich and Attorney General Lisa Madigan's campaigns. In 2003, while Chico was chairman and simultaneously running for the US Senate, Altheimer became insolvent and dissolved.[12][13] Some partners blamed the bankruptcy on poor management by Chico, while an attorney who sat on two financial committees blamed an economic downturn.[5]

Chico also served as Special Counsel to Arnstein & Lehr in 2003 and 2004.[9] In 2004, Chico, along with Planning Department colleague Marcus Nunes, formed the general practice law firm Chico & Nunes,[5] which lobbies for clients seeking government business.[11][14]

Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

[edit]

In 1991, Chico was a Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley.[9] He coordinated efforts to drain freight tunnels that were flooded with water from the Chicago River.[15] Chico was later promoted to Chief of Staff, a position he held from 1992 to 1995.[9] As part of his duties, he oversaw the completion of the International Terminal of O'Hare International Airport, preparations for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and the construction of new schools.[16] Along with Budget Director Paul Vallas, Chico helped add 1,000 officers to the police force and improved neighborhoods throughout the city through a program called Neighborhoods Alive.[5]

Chicago Public Schools board

[edit]

In 1995, the Illinois state legislature passed the Chicago School Reform Act, which gave the Mayor of Chicago unprecedented new control over Chicago Public Schools.[citation needed] Daley asked Chico to become the CEO, but Chico declined because he was resuming his law career. Chico instead recommended that Daley appoint colleague Paul Vallas as CEO, and Chico was named chairman of the School Reform Board of Trustees, which was renamed the "President of the Chicago Board of Education" in 1999 (the title which the board had originally held before 1995).[17][18][19][20] In 1997 Chico was named Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education for his reforms in education and fiscal policies.[citation needed]

Chico was responsible for efforts to preserve and restore hundreds of murals in the public schools, which had been commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Progressive and New Deal eras. They had since been hidden under layers of dirt and paint.[21] Under his administration, CPS appointed an Arts Education Task Force and a Bureau of Cultural Arts.[22]

Chico resigned as President of the Chicago Board of Education in 2001.[18][23] His departure was considered sudden, and came after a number of failing standardized testing scores eliminated the improvements to test scores that had been experienced in the previous two years. Soon after his departure, Paul Vallas also announced his resignation.[24] Chico was succeeded in this office by Michael W. Scott.[25]

2004 campaign for U.S. Senate

[edit]
See also: 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois

In 2004, Chico ran for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald. He was the first Democrat to declare his candidacy, doing so on July 30, 2002, during a rally with Hispanic leaders. His Senate committee preferences included education, transportation, and judiciary. He also criticized the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, but supported gay marriage,[6] abortion rights, stem cell research, the death penalty,[26] and universal healthcare.[27] Chico was the only candidate who supported gay marriage out of all seven Democrats and eight Republicans.[28] Then-State Senator Barack Obama ultimately won the nomination over six other candidates including Chico.[29]

Chicago Park District board

[edit]

In October 2007, Mayor Daley appointed Chico as president of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners.[30] Chico supported the construction of a new soccer field in Lincoln Park despite opposition from local residents.[31] In 2010, he stepped down.[32]

City Colleges of Chicago board

[edit]

In March 2010, Mayor Daley nominated Chico as chairman of the board of trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago and the board elected Chico chairman.[33][34] Along with Chancellor Cheryl Hyman, Chico reformed the City Colleges budget by laying off 225 employees, removing unfilled jobs, and reducing executive spending to increase spending on technology and training for students. Furthermore, Chico and Hyman reduced taxation on property for two straight years, and cancelled nursing programs. He resigned 8 months later to run for Mayor of Chicago.[35]

2011 campaign for mayor of Chicago

[edit]
See also: 2011 Chicago mayoral election
Chico participating in a 2011 mayoral candidate debate
A pre-election rally at Roberto Clemente High School.

On September 27, 2010, Chico announced that he would run for mayor of Chicago in 2011.[36] He was one of six candidates on the ballot.

Rahm Emanuel was considered to be the leading candidate before the election. Chico was considered "the rival with the best chance of forcing him into a runoff".[37]

Chico positioned himself as a business candidate with a Latino identity.[38] He sought to portray himself as a candidate who understood the city better than frontrunner Rahm Emanuel.[38] He touted his experience, particularly his tenure as president of the school board.[38]

Chico advertised his Latino background, his identity as the son of an immigrant father, his education in the Chicago Public Schools system.[38] He also contrasted his South Side upbringing to Emanuel's upbringing in the suburban North Shore.[38]

In seeking the Hispanic vote, he proved to have a lead over the race's other Hispanic candidate, Miguel del Valle.[38] Chico received significant support from the city's Hispanic community, even receiving endorsements from leading members such as congressman Luis Gutierrez.[38]

Chico raised nearly $4.4 million in campaign funds.[38] This was the second-greatest amount any candidate raised, however it was still only less than one-third of the $15 million in campaign funds that Emanuel was able to procure.[38] Chico received most of his money from personal and corporate donations. However, he also had the greatest union support financial contribution to his campaign committee of any candidate, receiving $188,000 from municipal unions, including the Chicago Firefighters Union and the Fraternal Order of Police.[38]

Chico was backed by many of the city's establishment Democrats, such as alderman Edward M. Burke.[38]

In regards to schools, Chico wanted to negotiate with the Chicago Teachers Union for both a lengthened school day and school year.[38] He opposed an elected school board.[38] He touted his experience leading the school board as qualifications which made him the best fit candidate to address problems with the Chicago Public Schools.[38]

Chico pledged to hire 2,000 police officers but did not offer specifics on how he would raise the funds.[39] He opposed making the school board an elected body, and he favored extending the school day and school year.[40] Chico picked up endorsements from unions that represented, among others, police officers, firefighters, laborers, painters, operating engineers, iron workers, roofers, and sheet metal workers.[41]

Chico attacked Rahm Emanuel's proposal to lower the sales tax and increase the service tax.[38] He derided Emanuel's proposed service tax increase the "Rahm tax", and discounted Emanuel's claim that this increase would be offset the by his proposed sales tax decrease.[38] He sought to garner additional media attention with his "Rahm tax" attacks, but to little avail.[38]

In the results of the election on February 22, Emanuel's 55% support dwarfed Chico's 24% support. Chico placed second.[42] Chico won in 10 of Chicago's 50 wards, while Emanuel won 40.[43] The campaign's communications director claimed that controversy over Emanuel's eligibility to run for mayor may have diverted the focus of the press away from the other candidates.[44] After the election, Chico remained involved in the runoff elections for other city offices, endorsing a candidate for 25th Ward alderman.[45]

State Board of Education

[edit]

From June 2011 through January 2015, Chico served as chair of the Illinois State Board of Education.[46]

Chico was nominated by Governor Pat Quinn to be chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education in June 2011.[47] His confirmation was delayed as a result of questions regarding his ties to the Save-A-Life Foundation, a failed charity that was undergoing investigation by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office.[48][49][50]

2019 campaign for mayor of Chicago

[edit]
Mayoral candidates participate in a 2019 forum hosted by the Chicago Tribune; L-R: William M. Daley, Chico, La Shawn Ford, Willie Wilson, and Toni Preckwinkle

Chico ran for mayor again in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election.

During his candidacy, Chico was perceived to be seeking strong support from Hispanic voters.[51] In the end, he received the second-highest support among Hispanic voters of any candidate in the first round, placing behind Susana Mendoza.[52] However, Hispanic voter turnout was low in the election.[52]

Chico was one of four mayoral candidates (alongside Bill Daley, Susana Mendoza, and Toni Preckwinkle) that had political ties to Alderman Edward M. Burke, whose corruption scandal upended the race for mayor.[53][54][55] Chico was particularly tied to Burke, having received his endorsement in the mayoral election.[53] Chico made efforts to distance himself from Burke.[56]

Chico touted his experience.[57] He staked much of his candidacy upon his record at Chicago Public Schools and Chicago City Colleges.[58]

Chico placed eighth of fourteen candidates, with 6.20% of the vote.[59][60]

After failing to advance to the runoff, Chico endorsed Lori Lightfoot.[2][3]

Subsequent activities

[edit]

In mid-2019, Chico became the board chairman of Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago, a nonprofit seeking to boost underserved neighborhoods through grants, loans, and by providing support to community organizations.[61][62]

Electoral history

[edit]
2004 United States Senate election in Illinois Democratic primary[63]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barack Obama 655,923 52.8%
Democratic Daniel W. Hynes 294,717 23.7%
Democratic M. Blair Hull 134,453 10.8%
Democratic Maria Pappas 74,987 6.0%
Democratic Gery Chico 53,433 4.3%
Democratic Nancy Skinner 16,098 1.3%
Democratic Joyce Washington 13,375 1.1%
Democratic Estella Johnson-Hunt (write-in) 10 0.0%
Total votes 1,242,996 100.0%
2011 Chicago mayoral election[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Rahm Emanuel 326,331 55.27
Nonpartisan Gery J. Chico 141,228 23.92
Nonpartisan Miguel del Valle 54,689 9.26
Nonpartisan Carol Moseley Braun 53,062 8.99
Nonpartisan Patricia Van Pelt Watkins 9,704 1.64
Nonpartisan William Walls, III 5,343 0.90
Write-in Tommy Hanson 9 0.00
Write-in John C. Hawkins 8 0.00
Write-in “Fredrick” “Frederick” “Fred” “F.” K. White 6 0.00
Write-in Alfredo Castillo 4 0.00
Write-in John Hu 4 0.00
Write-in Alex George (AG) 3 0.00
Turnout 590,391 41.99
2019 Chicago mayoral election
Candidate General Election[65] Runoff Election[66]
Votes % Votes %
Lori Lightfoot 97,667 17.54 386,039 73.70
Toni Preckwinkle 89,343 16.04 137,765 26.30
William Daley 82,294 14.78
Willie Wilson 59,072 10.61
Susana Mendoza 50,373 9.05
Amara Enyia 44,589 8.00
Jerry Joyce 40,099 7.20
Gery Chico 34,521 6.20
Paul Vallas 30,236 5.43
Garry McCarthy 14,784 2.66
La Shawn K. Ford 5,606 1.01
Robert "Bob" Fioretti 4,302 0.77
John Kolzar 2,349 0.42
Neal Sales-Griffin 1,523 0.27
Write-ins 86 0.02
Total 556,844 100 523,804 100

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gery Chico

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Gery J. Chico is an American attorney and former Chicago public official who earned a B.A. from the University of Illinois in 1978 and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1985, where he served on the Loyola Law Review.
As chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley from 1992 to 1995, Chico oversaw the day-to-day operations of Chicago's city government.
He subsequently led the Chicago Board of Education as president from 1995 to 2001, a period marked by administrative restructuring in the public schools system.
Chico also presided over the Chicago Park District board from 2002 to 2004 and chaired the Illinois State Board of Education.
In his private career, he co-founded the law firm Chico & Nunes, P.C., focusing on real estate, land use, and government regulation matters informed by his public service background.
Chico sought higher office as a Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004 and ran for Mayor of Chicago in 2011, finishing second, and again in 2019.

Background

Early life

Gery Chico was born and raised in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood on the city's Southwest Side. His father was Mexican-American, while his mother was of Greek and Lithuanian heritage. Chico attended a local Catholic elementary school and later Thomas Kelly High School, part of the Chicago Public Schools system, graduating in 1974.

Education

Chico earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduating in the class of 1978. He subsequently obtained a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Professional Career

Chico began his private legal practice as an associate at the Chicago firm (now LLP) in 1987, following an initial stint in city government, where he focused primarily on and matters under the firm's practice group. He advanced to partner at in 1995 before transitioning to Altheimer & Gray, where he served as a senior partner from 1996 to 2003 and led the firm's government relations and operations. During this period, his client base expanded significantly, growing from 18 clients in 1995 to nearly 200 by 2000, capitalizing on his prior City Hall connections to assist corporations and developers in navigating municipal approvals and contracts. In April 2004, Chico co-founded the law firm Chico & Nunes, P.C., with Marcus J. Nunes, shifting his focus to , development, and related regulatory work, areas restricted at his prior firm due to internal policies. The firm specializes in transactions, entitlements, public disputes, regulatory litigation, public projects, and financing, drawing on Chico's expertise in Chicago's governmental processes. Clients have included major entities such as , CBRE, ComEd, Peoples Gas, , and the Noble Network of Charter Schools, with Chico personally generating lobbying fees of approximately $500,000 between 2012 and 2018. Chico's practice has proven highly remunerative, with his personal income from the firm averaging $1.75 million annually from 2015 to 2018, peaking at $2.9 million in one year according to tax returns disclosed during his political campaigns. His City Hall tenure as Mayor Richard M. Daley's (1992–1995) directly informed client strategies for securing development approvals and contracts, though he recused himself from over 400 board votes during his concurrent presidency (1995–2001) to mitigate conflicts of interest. As of 2025, Chico remains a founding partner at Chico & Nunes, even as several partners departed in 2025 to establish LKK Law.

Entry into public administration

In the late 1980s, prior to his private legal practice, Chico gained initial experience in city government as a research assistant in the Chicago Department of Planning and as an attorney for the City Council Finance Committee under Alderman Edward M. Burke. Chico transitioned to executive-level public administration in 1991, leaving his partnership at the law firm Sidley Austin to join the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley shortly after Daley's reelection. He initially served as deputy chief of staff, handling operational responsibilities including oversight of departments during crises such as the 1992 Great Chicago Flood, where he coordinated evacuations and managed reporting lines for the Department of Transportation. Promoted to in 1992, Chico managed the day-to-day operations of Chicago's city government until 1995, functioning as the mayor's second-in-command and implementing administrative priorities. This role marked his elevation to a key position in municipal governance, leveraging his legal background to navigate policy and bureaucratic challenges.

Public Service Roles

Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley

Gery Chico was appointed deputy chief of staff to Chicago Mayor on December 11, 1991, succeeding , who had moved to head the Department of Planning and . Prior to this, Chico had served on the City Council Finance Committee under Aldermen Wilson Frost and Edward Burke (14th Ward), worked as an attorney at focusing on government regulation, , and zoning matters, and acted as to the Chicago Development Council, representing developers, banks, hotels, insurance companies, and property owners. Chico advanced to chief of staff in 1992, holding the position until 1995, during which he managed the day-to-day operations of 's city government as the mayor's second-in-command, overseeing key administrative and policy functions. In 1995, Daley appointed him president of the Chicago Board of Education, prompting his departure from the chief of staff role to lead reforms in the public schools system amid a state-mandated addressing a $150 million budget shortfall.

Chicago Public Schools Board Presidency

Gery Chico was appointed president of the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees on July 1, 1995, by Mayor under the Illinois School Reform Amendatory Act of 1995, which centralized control of (CPS) under mayoral authority and replaced the prior elected board with a smaller appointed body tasked with systemic overhaul. Serving in this unpaid position alongside Chief Executive Officer —who handled day-to-day operations including budget balancing and facility expansions—Chico provided strategic oversight as the district grappled with chronic underperformance, fiscal deficits exceeding $500 million at the time of the reform, and low student outcomes. Key initiatives under Chico's presidency included the introduction of a probation for underperforming , which identified and intervened in dozens of low-achieving institutions starting in the mid-1990s, often resulting in staff reassignments, principal replacements, or closures to prioritize and resource reallocation. The board also advanced a 1997 turnaround strategy targeting seven predominantly and Latino high on the and West Sides, such as Robeson High , involving curriculum overhauls and performance mandates, while implementing test-based for students in grades 3, 6, and 8 to enforce academic standards—a affecting tens of thousands and linked by critics to higher dropout rates among affected demographics. Infrastructure reforms emphasized capital investments, with CPS constructing or renovating over 100 facilities by 2001 to address overcrowding and decay, contributing to stabilized enrollment amid broader efforts to improve test scores, which rose modestly in reading and math during the period according to district reports. Relations with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) were contentious, as reforms prioritized managerial efficiency over union concessions; the CTU later contested Chico's claims of collaborative ties, citing policies that displaced experienced educators—disproportionately Black staff in closed schools—and rigid evaluation metrics that fueled grievances without formal strikes during his tenure. Concurrently, Chico's , Altheimer & Gray, secured CPS contracts totaling $259 million by 1999 and additional deals, raising questions about potential conflicts though no formal violations were adjudicated at the time. Chico resigned effective June 27, 2001, after six years, amid the board's praise for his "distinguished service" in stabilizing the district's trajectory, coinciding with Vallas's departure as CEO; the transition marked the end of the initial reform phase, with successor Michael Scott appointed to continue oversight. Long-term evaluations of the era highlight gains in fiscal health and physical but persistent debates over equity in school interventions and their causal links to uneven academic progress.

Political Campaigns

2004 U.S. Senate Campaign

In July 2002, Gery Chico announced his intentions to seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in , vacated by incumbent Republican Peter Fitzgerald's decision not to seek re-election. As a former chief of staff to and president of the Board, Chico positioned his campaign on his executive experience in and , highlighting achievements such as improving school performance metrics during his tenure. He launched the first television advertisements in the race in September 2003, emphasizing substantive policy over personal scandals that plagued other candidates in the crowded Democratic primary field, which included self-funded millionaire , State Comptroller Dan Hynes, and state . Chico's platform focused on education accountability, opposing the elimination of the while advocating for its refinement, and critiquing campaign finance reforms like the (McCain-Feingold) as insufficiently effective. He also expressed support for gay marriage and leveraged endorsements from figures like former CEO to underscore his "battle scars" from reforming entrenched bureaucracies. However, the campaign faced challenges, including low name recognition outside , limited fundraising compared to better-known or self-financed rivals, and scrutiny over the 2002 bankruptcy of his former , Altheimer & Gray, where he had approved $850,000 in partner advances amid a decline from $11 million to $6.8 million, which critics attributed partly to economic conditions but also to firm mismanagement. In the March 16, 2004, Democratic primary, Chico received 53,433 votes, comprising 4.30% of the total, placing fifth behind winner (52.77%), Dan Hynes (23.71%), (10.43%), and Joyce Washington (6.77%). His performance reflected the primary's dynamics, dominated by higher-profile candidates and Hull's self-funding of over $28 million, which drew media attention despite eventual scandals leading to Hull's third-place finish. Following the loss, Chico returned to private legal practice, later reflecting on the race as a valuable but under-resourced effort against a field skewed toward wealth and incumbency advantages.

2011 Chicago Mayoral Campaign

Gery Chico formally announced his candidacy for in October 2010, shortly after incumbent Mayor Richard M. Daley's September 27 decision not to seek a seventh term. Drawing on his prior roles as Daley's and president of the , Chico positioned himself as a proven administrator capable of continuing effective governance while addressing fiscal challenges and neighborhood priorities. His campaign emphasized job creation, improvement, and public safety, with early television ads underscoring his upbringing in 's working-class neighborhoods and executive experience in city operations. Chico released detailed policy proposals, including a 17-page public safety plan targeting crime reduction through and resource allocation, a six-point anti-bullying strategy for schools involving proactive programs and alternative education options, and an LGBT platform advocating for civil unions and expanded anti-discrimination protections. He garnered key endorsements, such as from former CEO in November 2010, the Fraternal Order of Police in January 2011—their first mayoral endorsement in decades—and a coalition of African-American ministers in February 2011. Throughout the campaign, Chico participated in multiple debates with rivals including , Carol Moseley-Braun, and Miguel del Valle, highlighting differences on issues like city finances and school reform. In the nonpartisan held on February 22, 2011, Chico finished second with 141,228 votes, comprising 23.92% of the 590,391 total ballots cast, behind Emanuel's outright majority of 326,331 votes (55.27%). Chico conceded the race that evening, acknowledging Emanuel's insurmountable lead and avoiding a potential runoff.

2019 Chicago Mayoral Campaign

Gery Chico announced his candidacy for on September 19, 2018, shortly after incumbent declared he would not seek re-election amid controversies over policing and school closures. Drawing on his prior roles as to and president of the board, Chico campaigned on a platform of experienced governance, emphasizing fiscal reforms that had previously balanced the CPS budget from a $500 million deficit and raised graduation rates from 45% to 63%. He advocated for increasing police staffing to 14,000 officers, streamlining city bureaucracy to cut costs, and prioritizing neighborhood safety through data-driven policing strategies rather than broad overhauls. Chico's campaign highlighted his private-sector success in expanding his , which generated over $10 million in annual revenue by representing clients before city agencies, positioning this as evidence of understanding Chicago's economic levers. Fundraising efforts yielded substantial support from and interests, with contributions totaling approximately $4.5 million by early 2019, enabling a $1 million television ad buy in targeting opponents' tax increase proposals. Endorsements were modest compared to frontrunners, including backing from some groups and former Daley allies, though lacking major labor union or newspaper support. In the February 26, 2019, nonpartisan election featuring 14 candidates, Chico secured 76,814 votes, equating to 7.4% of the total, placing fourth behind , , and Willie Wilson, and thus eliminated from the April 2 runoff. Polls prior to the vote, such as a January Sun-Times survey showing him at 9.3%, suggested stronger viability, but dynamics and sentiment favored reform-oriented challengers. Following the primary, Chico did not endorse either finalist immediately, focusing instead on post-campaign civic initiatives.

Additional Public Appointments

Chicago Park District and City Colleges Boards

In 2007, Mayor appointed Gery Chico as president of the Board of Commissioners, a position he held until 2010. During this period, the board oversaw the construction of new neighborhood parks and athletic fields to enhance recreational facilities across the city. Chico's leadership focused on infrastructure improvements amid the district's management of over 8,800 acres of parkland and more than 500 facilities. In March 2010, shortly after departing the Park District board, Chico was appointed chairman of the board by Daley, serving approximately seven months until October. In this role, he collaborated with Cheryl Hyman to initiate an overhaul of the seven-college system, emphasizing workforce development and enrollment strategies amid declining student numbers and budget shortfalls. The board approved reforms aimed at aligning curricula with local job markets, though Chico abstained from votes involving contracts awarded to his or its clients, which drew scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest.

Illinois State Board of Education

In June 2011, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Gery Chico as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), replacing Jesse Ruiz, to oversee policy for the state's approximately 868 school districts serving 2.1 million students and managing an annual budget exceeding $11 billion. Chico's selection drew on his prior role as president of the Board from 1995 to 2001, where he collaborated with CEO on reforms that stabilized district finances and boosted academic outcomes amid fiscal crises. Chico's chairmanship occurred amid state-level challenges, including implementation of Senate Bill 7, which linked teacher evaluations, tenure, and layoffs to student performance metrics, and ongoing debates over federal No Child Left Behind requirements. In December 2011, Chico co-authored an opinion piece with State Superintendent Koch advocating for to seek a from No Child Left Behind's mandates, arguing it would allow flexibility to prioritize effective interventions over rigid compliance. The ISBE under his leadership intervened in underperforming districts, such as removing elected school boards in East St. Louis District 189 and North Chicago District 187 in June 2012 due to chronic financial mismanagement and low graduation rates—East St. Louis, for instance, had only 60 percent attendance the prior year—installing financial oversight panels to enforce reforms. Additional efforts included advocating for increased state education funding amid pension liabilities squeezing classroom resources, as Chico testified before the Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee in April 2013, urging lawmakers to counteract declining per-pupil allocations. The board also advanced equity initiatives, such as a February 2014 report highlighting narrowed achievement gaps for Latino students and budget proposals expanding access to boost college readiness. Chico publicly supported localized innovations, including praising student-led healthy eating campaigns at the state capitol in May 2013 and commenting on resolutions to teacher strikes, like in Waukegan in October 2014, emphasizing swift returns to instruction. Chico served until 2015, after which the board continued under subsequent leadership without specified reasons for his departure in public records, coinciding with the end of a typical four-year gubernatorial-appointed term. His tenure emphasized measures and resource reallocation, building on his experience to address systemic inefficiencies in public education.

Private Sector and Later Activities

Expansion of law firm and lobbying

In April 2004, Gery Chico co-founded the Chicago-based Chico & Nunes, P.C., with Marcus Nunes, emphasizing , , and government relations services. The firm grew by capitalizing on Chico's prior roles, including to Mayor and president of the Chicago Board of Education, to attract clients navigating municipal approvals and regulations. Chico & Nunes expanded its lobbying operations as a registered City Hall advocate, representing over 40 corporate clients by 2010, such as Cisco Systems, Exelon Generation, and Clear Channel, which sought city contracts, changes, and deals. The firm employed approximately 12 lawyers, five of whom were registered lobbyists, enabling it to handle a broadening portfolio of government-facing work. Financial growth reflected this expansion: Chico's personal earnings from the firm totaled $1.2 million in 2007, $2.9 million in 2008 (with over $900,000 in federal taxes), and $2.6 million in 2009 (with $830,000 in federal taxes). From 2012 to 2018, the firm collected nearly $500,000 in fees from more than 100 clients, less than one-third of which involved City Hall matters in 2018. Key lobbying efforts included advocating for charter school operators, such as Noble Network ($19,215 in fees) and Intrinsic Schools ($8,800 in fees) on facility expansions, as well as representing utilities like ComEd and Peoples Gas, firms like CBRE, and companies including Avis Budget and . Between 2015 and 2017, the firm registered 32 clients and conducted 38 lobbying contacts with the Emanuel administration. Over two decades, the practice sustained operations across , , and regulatory areas, though it faced partner departures in 2025.

Post-campaign initiatives

Following his unsuccessful 2019 Chicago mayoral campaign, Gery Chico was appointed board chair of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago in June 2019. In this volunteer capacity, he leads efforts to direct philanthropic and public investments toward affordable housing, economic development, education, public safety, and workforce opportunities in the city's South and West Side neighborhoods, which have faced chronic disinvestment. Chico has emphasized implementing policy ideas from his campaign, such as targeted neighborhood revitalization, through LISC's programs, which have facilitated over $1 billion in investments across Chicago since the organization's founding in 1980. Under his leadership, LISC Chicago has prioritized projects like mixed-income housing developments and community-led violence interruption initiatives in areas including Englewood and Austin, aiming to foster self-sustaining economic growth without relying on large-scale government subsidies. As of 2025, Chico continues in this role, leveraging his prior public service experience to bridge private funding with community needs, though specific outcomes attributable to his chairmanship remain tied to broader LISC metrics, such as the creation of thousands of units and job training slots in the intervening years.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of influence peddling and politics

Gery Chico's career in Chicago has been marked by close associations with the city's Democratic , originating from his early in the 29th Ward office of Mayor in 1977, a core hub of the traditional patronage-based organization. As to Mayor from 1992 to 1995, Chico managed key administrative functions, including personnel and policy implementation, roles critics argue facilitated the distribution of jobs and contracts to political allies in line with practices. During his tenure as president of the Chicago Board of Education from 1995 to 2001, appointed by Daley, Chico oversaw reforms amid financial crises, but faced accusations of prioritizing machine-aligned interests, such as directing resources to wards with strong Democratic organization support, including white-majority areas like Portage Park, over under-resourced Black South Side schools. His , then Altheimer & Gray, expanded from 18 to nearly 200 clients, securing $259 million in school-related contracts by 1999, a sharp rise from $505,000 in 1995, prompting claims of leveraging his public position for private gain through influence peddling. Chico abstained from 359 board votes due to conflicts of interest tied to his firm's clients, a practice defenders described as ethical caution but opponents viewed as evidence of blurred lines between public duty and personal business. In the 1997 debate over (TIF) districts, U.S. Rep. alleged that Chico endorsed TIF expansion as school board president to secure personal financial benefits, compromising his responsibilities to public education. These claims were rebutted by supporters who highlighted Chico's politically risky decisions to prioritize school improvements over constituency pressures. Campaign opponents frequently invoked Chico's machine ties as emblematic of entrenched influence peddling. In the 2011 mayoral race, criticized Chico's financial dealings and connections to City Hall insiders, portraying him as emblematic of self-serving politics. Similarly, in 2019, reformers contrasted Chico's establishment profile—bolstered by his subsequent , Chico + Partners, which earned $2.9 million City Hall—with outsider candidacies, arguing his career exemplified the conversion of into lucrative private advocacy for developers and contractors. Critics, including progressive outlets, labeled Chico a steward of the "old white Chicago Democratic Machine," reliant on endorsements from figures like Ald. Edward to mobilize networks, though Chico distanced himself from Burke following federal charges against the latter. No formal charges of or influence peddling have been filed against Chico personally in connection with these activities, and he has maintained that his actions advanced city governance without impropriety. Nonetheless, his trajectory reflects broader patterns in Chicago's , where administrative roles under mayors often yield networks convertible to influence.

Association with Ed Burke corruption proceedings

In December 2023, during the federal corruption trial of former Chicago Alderman Ed , prosecutors introduced a wiretapped recording of a 2017 phone call between and Gery Chico to illustrate 's alleged pattern of leveraging his official position for personal or political gain. In the conversation, Chico, then preparing a mayoral campaign, contacted regarding potential donations from executives at Bulley & Andrews Construction, a firm that had recently completed a project in 's 14th Ward; Chico expressed hope that the firm's representatives would contribute to his campaign after 's involvement in facilitating related permits. Prosecutors argued the exchange exemplified 's "" in tying regulatory approvals to benefits, though Chico faced no charges and the call centered on standard political solicitation rather than explicit . Chico and Burke shared a longstanding political alliance, with Burke publicly endorsing Chico's 2019 Chicago mayoral bid shortly before federal authorities indicted Burke on January 3, 2019, for charges including racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion unrelated to Chico. The timing of Burke's arrest—amid the February 2019 election—amplified scrutiny on Chico, given their joint hosting of campaign fundraisers and Burke's role as a key supporter in Chicago's Democratic machine. Rivals, including and , highlighted Chico's ties to Burke to question his reform credentials, contributing to Chico's third-place finish with 13.7% of the vote in the first round. Burke was convicted on December 21, 2023, of 10 of 14 counts, including and schemes involving appeals and business permits, but acquitted on four bribery-related charges; he received a two-year sentence in July 2024. Chico did not testify in the proceedings, and no evidence linked him directly to Burke's criminal conduct beyond their recorded discussion of campaign contributions, which federal prosecutors framed as contextual to Burke's broader influence-peddling tactics. The episode underscored criticisms of entrenched Chicago political networks but yielded no legal repercussions for Chico himself.

Electoral History

2004 U.S. Senate Election

In the Democratic primary for the 2004 United States Senate election in , Gery Chico competed for the nomination to challenge the eventual Republican nominee in the race for the open seat vacated by retiring incumbent Peter Fitzgerald. Chico, leveraging his experience as chief of staff to Chicago Mayor and as president of the , positioned himself as a pragmatic administrator focused on , economic development, and effective . The primary attracted a crowded field of seven Democratic candidates, including state Senator , state Comptroller Dan Hynes, and businessman , amid a competitive environment marked by debates over issues like the , where candidates including Chico criticized President George W. Bush's post-invasion policies but diverged on troop commitments. Chico's campaign emphasized his "battle scars" from politics as evidence of real-world problem-solving, contrasting with better-funded rivals like Hull, who self-financed heavily before scandals derailed his bid. Held on March 16, 2004, the primary saw Obama emerge victorious with 655,923 votes (52.77%), Hynes with 294,717 (23.71%), and Hull with 266,821 (21.47%). Chico garnered 53,433 votes, accounting for 4.30% of the total Democratic primary vote, placing fourth behind the top three contenders. Following the loss, Chico conceded and withdrew from further electoral pursuits at that level, returning to his law practice.

Chicago Mayoral Elections

Gery Chico launched his first campaign for in October 2010, positioning himself as a continuity candidate with deep ties to the Daley administration, where he had served as and . His platform emphasized , drawing on his prior role as president of the Chicago Board of Education, alongside commitments to fiscal responsibility, public safety enhancements, and through business-friendly policies. Chico also outlined support for civil unions and broader LGBT rights initiatives. In the February 22, 2011, nonpartisan election, Chico received 141,228 votes, comprising 23.9 percent of the total 590,391 ballots cast, placing second behind Rahm Emanuel's 326,331 votes (55.2 percent), which exceeded the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Chico conceded the race that evening, acknowledging Emanuel's strong performance while highlighting his own campaign's focus on experienced . Chico announced his second mayoral bid on September 18, 2018, shortly after incumbent declared he would not seek re-election amid controversies over policing and school closures. Leveraging his City Hall expertise, the campaign targeted the city's pension crisis, proposing a casino and legalized marijuana sales to generate revenue for the nearly $1 billion annual shortfall, in addition to priorities in public safety, education accountability, and neighborhood economic revitalization. On February 26, 2019, amid a crowded field of 14 candidates, Chico secured 34,521 votes, or 6.2 percent, failing to advance to the April runoff between and . Post-election, Chico shifted focus to private initiatives, including community development efforts, while endorsing candidates in subsequent races aligned with his reform-oriented views.

References

  1. https://www.martindale.com/attorney/gery-j-chico-910489/?pa=200
  2. https://chiconunes.com/legal-professionals/gery-chico/
  3. https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/video/2349/gery-chico
  4. https://www.politifact.com/personalities/gery-chico/
  5. https://ballotpedia.org/Gery_Chico
  6. https://news.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2019/candidates/chicago-mayor/gery-chico
  7. https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/October-2010/A-Chat-with-Mayoral-Candidate-Gery-Chico/
  8. https://depauliaonline.com/38682/news/gery-chico-adds-experience-and-connections-to-mayoral-race/
  9. https://www.wbez.org/politics/2011/02/18/why-gery-chico-is-the-white-candidate-for-mayor
  10. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2011/02/18/navarrette-rahm-emanuel-is-no-friend-to-latinos/
  11. https://abc7chicago.com/post/gery-chico-chicago-mayor-candidate/5104846/
  12. https://chicagoreader.com/news/chico-and-the-man/
  13. https://uofi150.news-gazette.com/people/gery-chico
  14. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gery-chico-98314250
  15. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/02/22/how-mayoral-candidate-gery-chico-turned-city-hall-experience-into-lucrative-law-practice/
  16. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20040425/NEWS01/200012263/gery-chico-starts-own-law-firm
  17. https://chiconunes.com/
  18. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/law/lawyers-gery-chicos-firm-branch-out-form-lkk-law
  19. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/15/daley-aide-chico-moves-up-after-flood-ouster/
  20. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/02/07/who-is-gery-chico/
  21. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/11/daley-names-lawyer-deputy-chief-of-staff/
  22. https://www.edweek.org/education/daley-names-team-in-takeover-of-chicago-schools/1995/07
  23. https://www.cpsboe.org/content/actions/2001_06/01-0627-RS1.pdf
  24. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/06/07/vallas-its-time-to-go/
  25. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-10-mn-8818-story.html
  26. https://www.ctulocal1.org/posts/factcheck-the-truth-behind-gery-chicos-friendship-with-chicagos-public-school-teachers/
  27. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/chicago-schools-chief-executive-will-step-down/2001/06
  28. https://chicagoreporter.com/cps-history/
  29. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/05/17/teachers-union-foes-differ-on-ties-to-board/
  30. https://www.the74million.org/article/cunningham-whats-driving-chicagos-school-turnaround-success-lessons-from-30-years-of-ed-reform/
  31. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/03/07/proud-of-battle-scars-chico-still-in-the-fight/
  32. https://rollcall.com/2003/09/29/illinois-chico-is-first-on-the-air-in-crowded-senate-race/
  33. https://www.fec.gov/documents/1624/2004congresults.pdf
  34. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=17&year=2004&f=0&off=3&elect=1
  35. https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/felsenthal-files/october-2010/a-chat-with-mayoral-candidate-gery-chico/
  36. https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7891270/
  37. https://chicagojustice.org/2011/02/03/cjps-analyzes-mayoral-candidates-crime-platforms/
  38. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/gery-chicos-one-point-plan-to-stop-bullying/1885924/
  39. https://windycitytimes.com/2011/01/01/gery-chico-announces-lgbt-platform-pushes-for-civil-unions-2/
  40. https://www.wbez.org/news/2010/11/23/paul-vallas-endorses-gery-chico-for-chicago-mayor
  41. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/fop-endorses-gery-chico-for-mayor/
  42. https://6abc.com/archive/7955356/
  43. https://www.c-span.org/person/gery-j-chico/58703/
  44. https://app.chicagoelections.gov/documents/proclamations/Proc-2011-02-22.pdf
  45. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-feb-22-la-naw-rahm-emanuel-chicago-mayor-story.html
  46. https://news.wttw.com/2018/09/19/city-hall-veteran-gery-chico-enters-chicago-mayor-s-race
  47. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/fact-checking-ads-gery-chicos-success-record/
  48. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/1/9/18322880/gery-chico-candidate-for-mayor
  49. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/1/2/18344464/trailing-in-mayor-s-race-chico-makes-1m-buy-on-cable-and-commercial-tv
  50. https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2019/2/25/21106993/here-s-how-some-of-the-biggest-forces-in-the-education-world-are-spending-money-in-chicago-s-mayoral/
  51. https://chicagorealtor.com/what-we-learned-at-our-2019-mayoral-candidate-forum/
  52. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/02/27/chicago-election-results-see-how-your-ward-voted-for-mayor-plus-other-races/
  53. https://www.scribd.com/document/398217562/Sun-Times-Chicago-Mayoral-Jan-2019-Draft
  54. https://www.lisc.org/chicago/regional-stories/election-over-gery-chico-just-getting-started/
  55. http://www.chicagoreporter.com/board-chairs-clients-law-firm-get-business-city-colleges-bga-investigation/
  56. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/gery-chico-former-top-chicago-official-to-lead-illinois-board/2011/06
  57. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chico-takes-on-job-ripe-with-opportunities/
  58. https://www.sj-r.com/story/opinion/columns/2011/12/03/in-my-view-opting-out/44246906007/
  59. https://www.dailyherald.com/20120621/news/state-removes-school-boards-in-north-chicago-east-st-louis-districts/
  60. https://dailynorthwestern.com/2013/04/23/city/eths-remains-financially-stable-despite-decreasing-funds-from-the-state/
  61. https://www.isbe.net/Lists/News/NewsDisplay.aspx?ID=39&ContentTypeId=0x0100AB967B83AA204C46A83F20F517D1BA7B
  62. https://healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/washington-hs-cooking-up-change-winners-take-meal-message-to-state-capitol-6034/
  63. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/waukegan-teacher-strike-deal/1988990/
  64. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/12/21/gery-chico-made-millions-from-law-firm-that-lobbies-city-hall/
  65. https://chiconunes.com/about/
  66. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/6/18/18684015/gery-chico-mayor-campaign-lisc-chicago-housing-neighborhood-development
  67. https://news.wttw.com/2019/07/03/gery-chico-s-new-challenge-uplifting-underserved-neighborhoods
  68. https://www.wbez.org/morning-shift/2019/06/26/former-mayoral-challenger-gery-chico-takes-on-chicago-neighborhoods
  69. https://mckinleypark.news/news/472-mckinley-park-native-gery-chico-plots-next-steps-community-improvements-as-lisc-board-chair
  70. https://southsideweekly.com/mapping-the-candidates-machine-ties/
  71. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/11/05/chico-maligned/
  72. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/braun-hits-chico-emanuel-on-finances/
  73. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/chico-emanuel-both-masters-of-the-business-of-politics/1866614/
  74. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/8/23993943/ed-burke-gery-chico-chicago-corruption
  75. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/12/08/jury-in-former-ald-ed-burke-trial-hears-tape-featuring-chicago-pol-gery-chico-discussing-fundraising/
  76. https://news.wttw.com/2023/12/08/prosecutors-finish-making-case-ex-ald-ed-burke-sought-hold-renovation-burger-king-until
  77. https://illinoisanswers.org/2019/01/03/feds-charge-powerful-ald-ed-burke-with-corruption/
  78. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/burke-extortion-charge/1905/
  79. https://news.wttw.com/2024/01/08/analyzing-ex-ald-ed-burke-s-conviction-feds-proved-corruption-why-did-accountability-take
  80. https://abc7chicago.com/post/ed-burke-trial-testimony-federal-corruption/14155770/
  81. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4442628
  82. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/01/23/senate-candidates-divided-over-iraq/
  83. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/09/18/2011-mayoral-candidate-gery-chico-to-get-into-crowded-chicago-mayors-race-to-succeed-rahm-emanuel/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.