Gery Chico

Gery Chico
Name	Gery Chico
Birth date	24 December 1956
Birth place	Guatemala City
Occupation	Attorney, politician, administrator
Years active	1980s–present
Spouse	Cheryl Avina

Gery Chico is an American attorney, politician, and civic leader who has served in a series of public positions in Chicago and Illinois. He held leadership roles in municipal administration, corporate governance, and public education oversight, becoming a visible figure in local politics during the administrations of Richard M. Daley and in state and city campaigns. Chico’s career has intersected with institutions such as the Chicago Public Schools, the University of Illinois, the Illinois Appellate Court environs, and corporate boards, and he has been a contender in multiple high-profile electoral contests in Cook County.

Early life and education

Chico was born in Guatemala City to parents of Colombian descent and immigrated to the United States as a child, growing up in Chicago neighborhoods. He attended Lane Technical College Preparatory High School and later earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. While at Northwestern he engaged with student organizations and local community groups; at the University of Chicago Law School he studied under faculty who were prominent in Illinois legal circles and participated in clinics connected to urban legal practice.

Legal and business career

After law school, Chico joined the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block and later became a partner at firms including Mayer Brown and Katten Muchin Rosenman. His practice covered corporate litigation, regulatory matters, and public finance, representing clients ranging from banks to municipal entities and private corporations. Chico served on corporate and nonprofit boards such as the Chicago Stock Exchange (board service context), philanthropic organizations, and civic foundations linked to redevelopment projects in Chicago. He also acted as outside counsel for public authorities and participated in transactions involving municipal bonds and urban revitalization projects in neighborhoods adjacent to the Loop and Near West Side redevelopment efforts.

Political career

Chico’s entry into public service included roles in the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley, where he was appointed to positions that bridged legal counsel and policy implementation. He served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley and later chaired the Chicago Public Schools board as CEO, overseeing policy decisions affecting district operations. In state politics, Chico served as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party-aligned campaigns and was involved in advisory capacities for Illinois governors and mayoral administrations. He has been associated with unions such as the Chicago Teachers Union in negotiations and policy disputes, engaged with institutions like City Colleges of Chicago in workforce development discussions, and had interactions with federal officials from U.S. Department of Education during school reform initiatives.

Electoral ventures included bids for the U.S. House of Representatives and statewide office; Chico ran for U.S. Senate-relevant forums and explored appointments connected to Illinois Attorney General-level matters. Throughout his political career he worked with advisors and campaign operatives who previously served in administrations of figures like Rod Blagojevich-era officials, and negotiated endorsements from civic leaders linked to Latino policy organizations and business coalitions in Chicago.

2011 Chicago mayoral campaign

In the 2011 mayoral election, Chico entered a crowded field that included figures such as Rahm Emanuel, Carol Moseley Braun, Miguel del Valle, and Gavin Newsom-adjacent observers. His campaign emphasized themes of education reform, public safety collaboration with agencies like the Chicago Police Department, fiscal stewardship involving the Chicago Transit Authority, and economic development tied to Chicago Board of Trade-area investment. Campaign strategy involved outreach to constituencies linked to the Hispanic/Latino community in Chicago, business leaders from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange domain, and labor groups including public-sector unions.

Debates and media appearances placed Chico alongside contenders such as Rahm Emanuel and Carol Moseley Braun, with policy exchanges on topics like pension liabilities involving Public Pension Funds and infrastructure projects related to Chicago O'Hare International Airport modernization discussions. The primary outcome produced a runoff between Rahm Emanuel and another candidate, and Chico’s electoral performance influenced subsequent endorsements and coalition-building in Chicago politics.

Later activities and public roles

After the 2011 campaign, Chico returned to legal practice and civic leadership, taking board and advisory roles with institutions such as University of Illinois-affiliated entities, nonprofit organizations focused on urban development, and corporate governance bodies in Chicago. He continued involvement with educational oversight through appointments related to Chicago Public Schools governance debates and participated in civic forums alongside figures like former mayors and state legislators from Illinois General Assembly delegations. Chico engaged in philanthropic initiatives addressing neighborhood revitalization in areas including Pilsen and Little Village and served as a commentator on municipal affairs in media outlets covering Midwest politics.

He has been considered for appointments to civic commissions and legal panels connected to urban policy, collaborating with leaders from institutions such as the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and interacting with county officials in Cook County Board of Commissioners-level discussions. Chico’s later public roles combined private-sector counsel, nonprofit governance, and intermittent participation in party politics in Illinois.

Category:People from Chicago Category:Illinois lawyers Category:American politicians of Colombian descent