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 used to be a member of the Chicago City Council. He served as an alderman for the 22nd ward in Chicago, which includes neighborhoods like Little Village and Archer Heights. He was first chosen for this job by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1993 and worked in this role until 2019. He was the longest-serving Latino member and the fourth longest-serving overall member of the Chicago City Council during his time.
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About Ricardo Muñoz
His Early Life and Education
Ricardo Muñoz was born in Monterrey, Mexico. His family moved to the United States and first lived on the Near West Side of Chicago. Later, his family moved to the Little Village neighborhood, where he and his wife, Betty, live today. He finished high school and then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in political science from Northern Illinois University.
Serving on the Chicago City Council
Ricardo Muñoz became an alderman for the 22nd ward in 1993. An alderman is like a local representative who helps make decisions for a specific part of a city, called a ward. He was chosen by Mayor Richard M. Daley to take over from his mentor, Jesús "Chuy" García, who moved on to work in the Illinois Senate. When Muñoz first joined the City Council in 1993, he was the youngest member.
The Chicago Tribune newspaper once wrote about him, saying he was "one of the few independents on the City Council who isn't afraid to speak out against the mayor when he sees fit." This means he was known for making his own choices and not always agreeing with the mayor, which is important for a balanced government. They also said he had "innovative ideas" and was a "terrific choice for voters."
Important Groups He Joined
During his time on the City Council, Ricardo Muñoz was part of several important groups. He was a founding member of the Progressive Reform Coalition. This group worked to bring new ideas and changes to the city government. He also helped start the Latino Caucus, which focuses on issues important to the Latino community in Chicago.
As of June 2018, Muñoz was a member of several committees in the City Council. These committees are smaller groups that focus on specific topics. He was on committees for Budget and Government Operations, Education and Child Development, Finance, Human Relations, and Public Safety. These roles allowed him to help shape policies on many different parts of city life.
His Time as Alderman Ends
Ricardo Muñoz decided not to run for re-election in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic elections. This meant he would leave his position as alderman. He also thought about running for mayor in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election after the previous mayor, Rahm Emanuel, announced he would not seek another term. However, Muñoz ultimately decided not to run for mayor.
