Gilbert Villegas (born in Chicago on October 26, 1970) is a Marine Veteran and served during the

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

. He's an American politician serving as a member of the

Chicago City Council The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is gaveled into session regularly, usually mont ...

from the 36th ward. The 36th ward includes

Belmont-Cragin Belmont Cragin is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located on the Northwest Side of the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is designated Community Area 19, and is located NW of the Loop. History Beginnings The first busines ...

, Galewood, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Montclare and

Portage Park Portage Park is a park in the Portage Park community area of Chicago, Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places. The park stretches from Irving Park Road on the south to Berteau Avenue between Central and Long Avenues. The largest p ...

. Prior to his election to the Chicago City Council, he served as chief of staff of the Illinois Capital Development Board.

Political career

Chicago City Council

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

, Villegas was elected as the 36th ward alderman. He was reelected in 2019. He is a member of the following committees; Aviation, Committees, Rules and Ethics, Economic, Capital and Technology Development, Health and Environmental Protection, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, and Transportation and Public Way. He is also a member of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus. In the runoff of the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Villegas endorsed

Lori Lightfoot Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American attorney and politician serving since 2019 as the 56th mayor of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as ...

. During her transition, Lightfoot named Villegas to be her floor leader in the City Council as well as the economic development committee chair.

2022 Congressional Election

In November 2021, Villegas declared his candidacy for

Illinois's 3rd congressional district Illinois's 3rd congressional district includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Marie Newman since January 3, 2021. The district was previously represented by Dan Lipinski from 2005 to 2021, and by Lipinski's father Bi ...

in the 2022 election. During the election he was accused of “misleading the public” in campaign mailers touting the congressional candidate's support for a massive affordable housing development near the Blue Line. On June 28, 2022 he was defeated by

Delia Ramirez Delia Catalina Ramirez (born June 2, 1983) is an American politician serving as U.S. representative from Illinois's 3rd congressional district since 2023. She also served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 4th district ...

(66% to 24%) for the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois 3rd Congressional District.

References

External links

Constituent Services website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villegas, Gilbert 1970 births 21st-century American politicians Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections Chicago City Council members Hispanic and Latino American politicians Illinois Democrats Living people Northeastern Illinois University alumni