Jesse Ruiz (politician)

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Ruiz unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Party nomination 2018 Illinois Attorney General election, placing sixth in a crowded field of eight candidates, receiving 5.4% of the vote. [8]

Ruiz's campaign was chaired by Newton N. Minow, former chair of the Federal Communications Commission. The campaign's finance co-chairs included former United States secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker, Chicago Cubs co-owner and Lambda Legal board member Laura Ricketts, and former Exelon CEO John Rowe. [43]

Ruiz's candidacy was endorsed by United States congressman Luis Gutierrez. [44]

Citing his parents' Mexican immigrant background, Ruiz said that a motivating factor in his decision to seek the office were what he considered attacks on immigrant rights and minority rights by then-President Donald Trump. [12] Ruiz ran on a pro-immigrant platform. [11]

Among Ruiz's campaign promises were to protect the state's residents from what he considered to be attacks on them by then-President Trump, to implement criminal justice system reform, to strengthen the police, and to work to "remove weapons from the streets". [11] He also pledged to eradicate political corruption, in order to guarantee an "honest and transparent government". [11]

In reaction to the Cook County Democratic Party's decision to endorse Kwame Raoul for the office, Ruiz criticized what he characterized as the county party organization's decision to, "slate a fellow political insider", as being, "disappointing – but sadly, not surprising." [45] Ruiz's negative characterization of Raoul as a "political insider" came despite the fact the Ruiz himself had strong connections to powerful politicians. [46]

Deputy Governor of Illinois for Education (2018–2021)

In December 2018, governor-elect J. B. Pritzker designated Ruiz, alongside Daniel Hynes and Christian Mitchell, to be one of three deputy governors. [15] Ruiz's purview as deputy governor pertained to education. [47]

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ruiz was involved in discussions as to whether youth sports could be safely conducted, including discussions with the Illinois High School Association and the Illinois Elementary School Association regarding whether youth sports. [48] [49] [50] [51]

In August 2021, it was announced that Ruiz would be stepping down from the position of deputy governor for education. [52] Ruiz told the Chicago Sun-Times that he, "wasn’t looking to leave, but a great opportunity to return to private practice presented itself." [53] Governor Pritzker credited Ruiz, upon his departure with having made, "an enormous difference for our entire state’s education systems." [53]

University of Illinois Board of Trustees (2023–present)

In October 2023, Governor Pritzker nominated Ruiz to serve on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees for a term lasting through 2029. His nomination required state senate confirmation. [54] [55] Ruiz was confirmed. [56]

Nonprofit board memberships

Ruiz has served on the boards of the Chicago Legal Clinic, Metropolitan Planning Council, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago Commons, and the Chicago Community Trust. [4] [9] [10]

Personal life

Ruiz met his wife, Michele Ilene Ruiz, while attending University of Chicago Law School. [10] [9] [12] His wife was a partner at the law firm Sidley Austin. [9]

With his wife, Ruiz has two sons. [9] While Ruiz is Catholic, his wife and sons are Jewish. [9] [12]

As of 2009, Ruiz and his family resided in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. [9] As of 2017, they were living on Chicago's South Side. [12]

Awards and recognition

Ruiz was the convocation speaker for 2014 economics graduates from the University of Illinois at Champaign. [57]

Awards

Electoral history

Jesse Ruiz
Jesse Ruiz 39701191921 (1).jpg
Ruiz in 2018
Deputy Governor of Illinois for Education
In office
January 2019 –August 2021
2018 Illinois Attorney General Democratic primary results [62]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Kwame Raoul 390,472 30.17
Democratic Pat Quinn 352,42527.23
Democratic Sharon Fairley164,30412.70
Democratic Nancy Rotering123,4469.54
Democratic Scott Drury 102,1937.90
Democratic Jesse Ruiz70,1585.42
Democratic Renato Mariotti 51,9024.01
Democratic Aaron Goldstein39,1963.03
Total votes1,294,096 100

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References

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  2. ↑ Spielman, Fran (20 November 2015). "City Hall shuffle: Jesse Ruiz moves from school board to park board". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Jesse H. Ruiz" (PDF). AFP Chicago. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 (Report). Chicago Park District. 14 September 2018. pp. 32–33.
  5. ↑ Kapos, Shia; Carrasco, Maria (17 February 2021). "ALL SNOWED OUT — WHAT's UP PRITZKER's SLEEVE? — TRIBUNE SALE — STACEY ABRAMS' VIRTUAL VISIT". Politico. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Bushey, Claire (28 August 2019). "Who's Who: Powerful Latinos in Chicago Business - Jesse Ruiz". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Palmer, Anna Therese (2 February 2009). "State school chair once was dropout". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jesse Ruiz". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kapos, Shia (14 June 2014). "He flunked out; look at him now". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Gately, Clifford (July–August 2019). "CBA President Jesse Ruiz: One Good Thing Leads to Another". Chicago Bar Association Record. Chicago Bar Association. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rodriguez, Laura. "Meet the Mexican-American lawyer running for Illinois attorney general". Chicago Tribune. pp. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Jesse Ruiz runs for Illinois Attorney General". Negocios Now. 2017-11-04. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "News Release of Commonwealth Edison Company". www.sec.gov. Commonwealth Edison. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Jesse Humberto Ruiz, Vistria Group LP/The: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  15. 1 2 Sfondeles, Tina (20 December 2018). "Pritzker names three heavy-hitting deputy governors but mum on salaries". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Adkins, Gary (January 2016). "Jesse Ruiz guided CPS at critical time". IASB. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Investing in Justice Campaign 2017" (PDF). Chicago Bar Foundation. 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "The Chicago Bar Association 144th Annual Meeting Thursday, June 22, 2017 Luncheon" (PDF). www.tkklaw.com. 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  19. ↑ Meadows, Jonah (20 June 2018). "Deerfield Village Attorney Named Bar Association President". Deerfield, IL Patch. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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  21. ↑ Maloney, Andrew (19 June 2019). "Ruiz sworn in as CBA president". Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  22. ↑ Dellimore, Craig (19 June 2019). "Chicago Bar Calls For More Diverse Judges In Illinois". WBBM-AM. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  23. ↑ Vitello, Barbara (3 April 2020). "Chicago Bar Association attorneys field COVID-19-related legal questions". Daily Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "CBA waives fee for referral service". The Beverly Review. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  25. ↑ Maloney, Andrew (26 June 2020). "Maryam Ahmad becomes 147th CBA president". Chicago Law Bulletin. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  26. 1 2 3 "CPS : Leadership : JesseRuiz". cps.edu. Chicago Public Schools. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
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  28. ↑ "Blagojevich Names New State School Board Members". news.stlpublicradio.org. Saint Louis Public Radio. Associated Press/KWMU. 15 September 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  29. 1 2 "JESSE RUIZ, FORMER ILLINOIS STATE BOARD PRESIDENT, RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOR". Illinois State Board of Education. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  32. 1 2 Cox, Ted (22 April 2015). "Ruiz Takes Charge at CPS, Suspends SUPES Contract, Halts No-Bid Deals". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  33. ↑ Qiu, Linda (17 April 2015). "CPS CEO Takes Leave of Absence Amid Federal Probe". WTTW News. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  34. 1 2 Spielman, Fran (18 February 2019). "Rahm's agency heads could outlast him thanks to golden parachute contracts". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  35. ↑ Perez, Juan Jr (1 June 2015). "CPS chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett resigns amid federal criminal investigation". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  36. ↑ Friedman, Brandis (22 April 2015). "Board of Education Suspends Contract with SUPES Academy". news.wttw.com. WTTW News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  37. ↑ Thometz, Kristen (16 July 2015). "Forrest Claypool to be CPS CEO". WTTW . Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  38. ↑ "15-0722-RS5 Resolution to Appoint Forest Claypool to the Position of Chief Executive Officer" (PDF). www.cpsboe.org. Chicago Board of Education. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  39. ↑ "Mayor Emanuel Announces New Leadership at Chicago Park District Board". www.chicagoparkdistrict.com. Chicago Park District. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  40. ↑ Spielman, Fran (28 February 2019). "Rahm's unhappy, so park district trashes Supt. Kelly's golden-parachute contract". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  41. ↑ Ihejirika, Maudlyne (13 February 2019). "A moment in Black History — African-Americans head all 5 Chicago sister agencies". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  42. ↑ "Mayor Lori Lightfoot Appoints Jose Muñoz to the Chicago Park District's Board of Commissioners | Casa Central". www.casacentral.org. Casa Central. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  43. ↑ Miller, Rich (October 24, 2017). "Penny Pritzker, Laura Ricketts, others co-chair Ruiz campaign finance committee". Capitol Fax . Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Rep. Gutierrez endorses Jesse Ruiz in IL Attorney General race". www.tristatehomepage.com. Tristate Homepage. November 20, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  45. ↑ Vinicky, Amanda (3 November 2017). "Cook County Democrats Back Kwame Raoul for Attorney General". news.wttw.com. WTTW News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  46. ↑ Vinicky, Amanda (13 October 2017). "Jesse Ruiz to Run for Illinois Attorney General: Sources". news.wttw.com. WTTW News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  47. ↑ "Illinois Governor's Staff & Transition Team". IL Capitol Group. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  48. ↑ O'Brien, Michael (7 January 2021). "IHSA meets with Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz, IDPH". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  49. ↑ DeGrechie, Eric (14 September 2020). "Letter To Pritzker 'Greatly Misconstrued' On Social Media: IHSA". Across Illinois, IL Patch. Patch. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  50. ↑ Wang, Judy (20 September 2020). "'Let us play': Illinois athletes to rally at Soldier Field ahead of Bears game". WGN-TV. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  51. ↑ O'Brien, Michael (15 January 2021). "Pritzker's latest announcement likely puts an end to hopes of a basketball season; football holds on by a thread". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  52. ↑ Hinz, Greg (23 August 2021). "Pritzker's top education aide steps down". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  53. 1 2 Hinton, Rachel (23 August 2021). "Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz leaving Pritzker administration to practice law". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  54. ↑ "Former deputy governor joins U of I's board of trustees". Crain's Chicago Business. October 27, 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  55. ↑ Quigley, Alex (November 13, 2023). "Two new members appointed to U of I System board of trustees". news.uillinois.edu. University of Illinois. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  56. ↑ "Jesse H. Ruiz - Board of Trustees". www.bot.uillinois.edu. University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  57. ↑ "2014 Convocation | Economics at Illinois". economics.illinois.edu. University of Illinois at Champaign Department of Economics. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  58. ↑ "JESSE RUIZ, FORMER ILLINOIS STATE BOARD PRESIDENT, RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOR". Illinois State Board of Education. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  59. ↑ "Economics Alumni receives 2018 Chicago Illini of the Year Award | Economics at Illinois". economics.illinois.edu. University of Illinois at Champaign Department of Economics. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  60. ↑ "Jesse Ruiz '95 Recognized as Chicago Father of the Year by American Diabetes Association | University of Chicago Law School". www.law.uchicago.edu. University of Chicago Law School. 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  61. ↑ "CHICAGO LANDMARKS 2019 PRESERVATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS 1305 East 50th Street Kenwood District New Construction" (PDF). www.chicago.gov. City of Chicago. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  62. ↑ "Election Results". Illinois Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
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