February 11, 2013

Mayor Emanuel Names Natashia Holmes New Seventh Ward Alderman

Choice of Holmes Comes at Tail End of Thorough, Transparent Process; Holmes in Line to Represent Seventh Ward at Next Council Meeting

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

 

Today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that Natashia L. Holmes will be the new alderman representing Chicago’s seventh ward.

“After an extensive and thorough process, I am pleased to announce that Natashia L. Holmes will be the new Alderman representing the seventh ward,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Natashia will bring professionalism and a strong sense of the needs of the community to the position and I am confident that she will be a steadfast advocate for the residents of the seventh ward.”

The selection of Holmes came after a thorough process in which 48 candidates were reviewed by a five-member selection committee. Four finalists met with the Mayor last week and he made his final decision over the weekend.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and I look forward to doing my best to represent the needs, interests, and aspirations of the people of the seventh ward,” said Natashia Holmes. “We have a lot of opportunity ahead of us and I believe that by working together we can create a brighter future for everyone.”

Natashia Holmes is a career expert in policy development, data analysis, and project management and logistics. Prior to being named Alderman, she worked for Metro Strategies. Metro Strategies provides planning, policy and public affairs services to public, private, and nonprofit entities. She has also served as a senior official at the Illinois Department of Transportation working to foster coordination between transit and rail programs;  worked as Senior Transportation Associate for the Metropolitan Planning Council; and began her professional career with the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference as a Transportation Planning Liaison. 

Ms. Holmes has lived in Chicago most of her adult life and has been an active resident of the seventh ward and a vibrant member of the Chicago community. She has served as President of the Metropolitan Conference on Public Transportation Research for two years, and as a Community Representative on the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Paideia Academy Local School Council. She is currently a member of the External Advisory Board for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Institute for Environmental Science and Policy. 

Ms. Holmes holds a B.S. from Alabama State University, College of Education, a Master of Community Planning from Auburn University, College of Architecture, Design and Construction, and a J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law. 

“We are pleased with the selection of our newest colleague,” said Ald. Michelle Harris (8th ward), who sat on the selection committee. “We will surely aid our newest member of the council to ensure that her constituents’ needs are met." 

Mayor Emanuel thanked the selection committee for their efforts on behalf of the city of Chicago.

“The selection committee undertook a very important task and completed it admirably and efficiently, and the seventh ward and the entire city of Chicago will benefit from their work,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I am very appreciative of their commitment and their willingness to use their time on behalf of Chicagoans.”

Ms. Holmes will appear in front of the City Council’s Rules Committee prior to the full City Council meeting on Wednesday, and then will be sworn in as part of the full meeting of the council.

The seventh ward includes the South Shore, South Chicago, Calumet Heights, Jeffrey Manor and South Deering communities.

 

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