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Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr. - 27th Ward
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1463 W. Chicago
Chicago, IL 60622
p. (312) 432-1995
Walter Burnett, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1963; his family lived in the Cabrini Green Housing Complex (Cabrini Green). Growing up in Cabrini Green was the start of Walter's political career. His father was the local precinct captain and his father often took Walter with him to work the precinct.
Walter has been a member of the Young Democrats of Cook County (YDCC) since 1989. This membership has and continues to be a source of pride for him because of the experience his tenure brought him, utilizing the knowledge in many of the political challenges in his life. In 1990, Walter became YDCC's North Area Chairman; this consisted of the north part of the Chicago area. In 1991, Walter was elected YDCC City Vice-Chairman and in the same year Executive Director of the Minority Caucus of the Young Democrats of America, the national organization. Walter continued to move quickly up the ranks of the YDCC. Elected Chairman in 1992 he successfully won re-election to a second term as Chairman in 1993, to date being the only African American to serve two terms. In his many roles with the YDCC, one of Walter's main priorities was motivating and educating young people to become involved in the political process. Today this continues to be a priority for him.
Walter had an eleven-year career with Cook County government before being elected alderman of the 27th Ward. Working his way up from various positions, from 1984 through 1989 he was a draftsman with the Highway department, in 1989 he was an engineer's assistant in the Construction, Maintenance and Operations department moving up to an operational engineer for the same department from 1989 through 1992. From December of 1992 to his 1995 election as alderman, Walter served as a special assistant to Jessie White who was then the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. In this role, Walter was responsible for public information and acted as the liaison for the Recorder to Deeds working with the public and other elected officials.
Walter served on the Executive Board of the 42nd Ward Democratic Organization as Sergeant of Arms with fellow board member Jessie White, then State Representative. A position both held until the 1992 Ward re-mapping. When Jessie White ran for Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 1992, Walter served as the Deputy Campaign Manager. Jessie White was elected the 37th Illinois Secretary of State in November 1998. During Jessie White's first race for Secretary of State of Illinois, Walter acted as a special political consultant assisting the campaign in the first successful statewide race.
Walter first ran for Alderman of the 27th Ward in 1995. He won that election and went on to win his second term in 1999, recently running for his successful third term in February of 2003. When Walter won the 27th Ward Aldermanic race in 1995, he was one of the youngest alderman in the history of the City Council at the age of 31.
Walter works in many different ways to support the young people of our city. He has been an assistant coach of the Jessie White Tumblers (Tumblers) for 10+ years. In this position, he serves as a positive role model for the young boys and girls who live in and around the Cabrini Green Housing Complex, as he also grew up in Cabrini. To raise money for the Tumblers, Walter ran in the 1999 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon®. He completed the race finishing in the top third; raising money to help the Jessie White Tumblers go to Hong Kong to perform.
In 1995, the first year that Walter was alderman he organized the first Stay in School Picnic with the help of the 27th Ward Committeeman Jessie White and the 1st Deputy Recorder of Deeds, Darlena Williams-Burnett. Within a few years the picnic grew so rapidly, a not-for-profit, the Chicago Neighbors United was formed to actively work on the picnic year-round. This picnic and neighborhood parade feed 5,000 people, give school supplies to 2,500 school age children, and offer numerous other incentives to the participants. The picnic offers entertainment and games for the young people and seniors of the ward in a daylong celebration. It is now in its eighth year.
Walter attended both Harold Washington College and the University of Illinois at Chicago before earning an Associate Degree and a Certificate in Mechanical Drafting from Southeastern Illinois University. He went on to earn his Bachelor Degree while he was a full-time alderman in 1998 from Northeastern Illinois University.
Walter is presently serving his third term as alderman of the 27th Ward. He is a sitting member of seven committees: Budget and Government Operations, Buildings, Committees, Rules and Ethics, Education, Finance, Health (Vice-Chair) and Transportation and Public Way.
Walter also serves on the Board of the following organizations: The United Center Economic Development Board, Leslie's Place, Harold Washington Advisory Board, CHA Alumni Association, St. Leonard's Ministries Advisory Board, Family Guidance Centers, Inc., Deborah's Place, Windows of Opportunity, Inc., Haymarket Center Advisory Board, the YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board, and The Inner Voice, Inc.
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Girl & the Goat
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