Ricardo Muñoz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ricardo Muñoz
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| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 22nd Ward | |
| In office January 1993 – May 20, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Jesús "Chuy" García |
| Succeeded by | Michael Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1965 (age 59–60) Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Betty Torres-Munoz |
| Children | Two |
| Residences | Little Village, Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Northern Illinois University (BA) |
| Profession | Politician |
Ricardo Muñoz is a politician who served on the Chicago City Council. He was an alderman for the 22nd ward in Chicago. This area includes neighborhoods like Little Village and Archer Heights. Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed him to this role in 1993. He served as alderman until 2019. He was the longest-serving Latino member of the City Council. He was also the fourth longest-serving member overall.
Contents
Ricardo Muñoz: Early Life and Education
Ricardo Muñoz was born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1965. His family moved to the United States when he was young. They first settled on the Near West Side of Chicago. Later, his family moved to the Little Village neighborhood. Ricardo and his wife, Betty, still live there today. He completed high school and then went to college. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science. This degree was from Northern Illinois University.
Serving on the Chicago City Council
Ricardo Muñoz became an alderman in 1993. He was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley. He took over the position from his mentor, Jesús "Chuy" García. Mr. García had joined the Illinois Senate. When Muñoz first joined the City Council, he was its youngest member.
Alderman's Role and Responsibilities
An alderman is like a city council member. They represent a specific area, called a ward. They help make decisions for the city. These decisions cover things like city budgets and public safety. Ricardo Muñoz was known for being independent. The Chicago Tribune newspaper praised him in 2003. They said he was not afraid to speak up. He also brought new and good ideas to the council.
Committee Work and Groups
As an alderman, Muñoz worked on several important committees. These committees help the city run smoothly. Some of the committees he served on included:
- Budget and Government Operations
- Education and Child Development
- Finance
- Human Relations
- Public Safety
He also helped start two important groups. He was a founding member of the Progressive Reform Coalition. He also helped create the Latino Caucus. These groups work to improve the city and represent different communities.
Later Years in Office
In 2018, Ricardo Muñoz supported Chris Kennedy. This was during the Democratic primary for governor. Muñoz decided not to run for re-election in 2019. He had thought about running for mayor of Chicago. This was after Rahm Emanuel announced he would not seek re-election. However, Muñoz ultimately did not run for mayor. He finished his term as alderman in May 2019.
