Walter Burnett Jr. has served as the alderman for Chicago's 27th ward since his first election in 1995. The 27th ward includes the West Loop, Greektown,

East Garfield Park East Garfield Park is on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, west of the Loop. Taking its name from the large urban park, Garfield Park, the neighborhood is bordered by Franklin Boulevard on the north, Arthington and Taylor Streets on the south ...

, Near North Side,

Old Town In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...

, West Humboldt Park, West Town, Goose Island and the Illinois Medical District.

Early life and education

Walter Burnett, Jr. was born August 16, 1963 at Cook County Hospital in the Illinois Medical District. Burnett served two years in jail for armed bank robbery in Kankakee.

Political career

Burnett had an 11-year career working for the Cook County government, where he had a variety of jobs including working as special assistant to Jesse White who was then Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Burnett later worked on Jesse White's campaign for Illinois Secretary of State.

Aldermanic career

Despite a 1993 Illinois state law that barred those convicted of a felony from holding local office, in 1995 Burnett ran for alderman in the newly redistricted 27th ward. Burnett defeated Dexter Watson, a protege of

Rickey R. Hendon Rickey R. Hendon (born December 8, 1953) is a former Illinois Senator for the 5th district, serving from 1993 to 2011. Public service Before running for the state senate, Hendon was alderman of the 27th ward in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to th ...

who had been appointed to succeed Hendon after Hendon's election to the

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...

. Burnett has subsequently been reelected in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

. In 2018, J.B. Pritzker appointed Burnett to the gubernatorial transition's Restorative Justice and Safe Communities Committee. Ahead of the 2011 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett was one of several black Chicago political figures involved in talks to have three black contenders choose a "consensus" black candidate to rally around. These talks led Congressman Danny Davis and State Senator

James Meeks James T. Meeks (born August 4, 1956) is a former Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, who represented the 15th district from 2003 to 2013. He is also an active Baptist minister in Chicago and chaired the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus ...

to withdraw from the election and endorse the candidacy of

Carol Moseley Braun Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun, also sometimes Moseley-Braun (born August 16, 1947), is a former U.S. Senator, an American diplomat, politician, and lawyer who represented Illinois in the United States Senate from 1993 to 1999. Prior to her Senate ...

, a former United States Senator and ambassador, as the "consensus" black candidate. In the runoff of the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett endorsed Toni Preckwinkle against

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 a ...

. In the initial round of the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, Burnett endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot for reelection. After Lightfoot was eliminated in the 2023 election's first round, Burnett endorsed Paul Vallas in the runoff.

Personal life

Alderman Burnett is married to

Darlena Williams-Burnett Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district is a electoral district for the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The district was established in 1994, when the board transitioned from holding elections in individual districts, as opposed to t ...

. Williams-Burnett was appointed as a

Cook County commissioner The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district, and a president who is elected county-wide, all for four-year terms. Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is the Un ...

from the

1st district The Innere Stadt (; Central Bavarian: ''Innare Stod'') is the 1st municipal district of Vienna () located in the center of the Austrian capital. The Innere Stadt is the old town of Vienna. Until the city boundaries were expanded in 1850, the Inn ...

, being appointed after Danny K. Davis resigned in 1997 to serve in the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washi ...

. She lost in her attempt to win a full term in 1998. Williams-Burnett challenged incumbent congressman Danny K. Davis in the February, 2010 Democratic primary and lost.

References

External links

Chicago's 27th Ward
website of Friends of Walter Burnett Jr, Burnett's political action committee {{DEFAULTSORT:Burnett, Walter Jr. 1963 births 21st-century American politicians Chicago City Council members Living people Northeastern Illinois University alumni University of Illinois Chicago alumni