User:Skier23/"Alma Anaya"

Alma E. Anaya (born June 19, 1989), is an American politician serving as the Cook County Commissioner for the 7th district. The district contains many neighborhoods in Chicago, including portions of the Lower West Side, South Lawndale, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn, West Elsdon, and West Lawn community areas. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career
Anaya was born June 19, 1989 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She was the oldest of four siblings, including two sisters and a brother. At the age of 6, Anaya's family immigrated to the United States, where she initially lived as an undocumented immigrant. Her family settled in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and Anaya later attended Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy.

During her time at Gwendolyn Brooks, Anaya's parents divorced amidst domestic violence. After their parents' separation, Anaya and her siblings were raised by their mother. They experienced about a year without a home, living out of their mother's car and motel rooms.

During her Junior year of high school, Anaya obtained legal status as a resident in the United States. After graduating high school, Anaya obtained her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Anaya obtained her U.S. Citizenship after obtaining her undergraduate degree.

While working full-time in government and politics, Anaya obtained her Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018. She was also named an inaugural Racial Equity Fellow by Chicago United for Equity and Edgar Fellow by the Institute of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.

Entry into government and politics
In 2012, Anaya started her career in government as an assistant in the office of 7th district Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García. In 2015, she took leave from Garcia's government office to join the executive team of his Mayoral campaign full time. Later in 2015, Anaya was promoted to Director of Administration and worked on policy initiatives, the County budget and constituent services.

2018 campaign
On November 28, 2017, just five days before the final day to file petitions to run in the 2018 election, Congressman Luis Gutiérrez announced that he would not run for reelection and endorsed 7th district Cook County Commissioner "Chuy" García for the seat. García announced he was running for the seat on the same day and endorsed 22nd ward Alderman Ricardo Muñoz in the 7th district Cook County Commissioner election. Alex Acevedo, son of former state Representative Edward Acevedo, and Angeles Sandoval, daughter of state Senator Martin Sandoval, also filed to run. On December 3, 2017, Anaya announced her decision to run for County Commissioner. Later that week, Muñoz dropped out of the race and he and García both endorsed Anaya. García later made his endorsement of Anaya, along with his endorsements of Aaron Ortiz and Beatriz Frausto-Sandoval, part of a political slate of progressive Southwest Side Latino candidates in Chicago. Alex Acevedo also dropped out of the race and endorsed Angeles Sandoval, leaving only Anaya and Sandoval in the race. Sandoval was also endorsed and financially backed by her father and state Senator Antonio Munoz, receiving $55,000 of contributions from each.

Anaya made her personal story, as someone who was formerly undocumented and homeless, a part of her campaign. During the campaign, she spoke at a rally for Senator Bernie Sanders. Both Anaya and Sandoval attempted to connect their opponent to machine politics. Sandoval tried to connect Anaya to Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan through a Madigan campaign mailer and Anaya pointed out that Sandoval's largest support comes from her father and his political allies and tried to connect Sandoval to Alderman Ed Burke through a donation from his brother state Representative Dan Burke to Sandoval. Anaya also called for an investigation of certain donations of over $750 to Sandoval's campaign that she alleged came from companies with Cook County contracts, which would be in violation of Cook County ordinance. Late in the campaign, parts of the district received attack mailers against Anaya, some of which included nativist themes such as, "Alma Anaya isn't from here."

On March 20, 2018, Anaya received 56.85% of the vote (14,159) to Sandoval's 42.81% (10,664), winning the Democratic primary. She went on to win the November 6, 2018 general election unopposed.

Committee assignments
As a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Deer serves on multiple committees of both the Board of Commissioners and the Forest Preserve District Board.

Cook County Board of Commissioners committee memberships Cook County Forest Preserve District Board committee memberships
 * Asset Management
 * Business and Economic Development (Vice Chair)
 * Contract Compliance
 * Criminal Justice
 * Emergency Management and Regional Security
 * Finance
 * Health and Hospitals
 * Human Relations
 * Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations
 * Pension (Vice Chair)
 * Transportation
 * Zoning and Building
 * Workforce, Housing & Community Development
 * Audit (Chair)
 * Botanic Garden
 * Contract Compliance
 * Finance
 * Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations
 * Real Estate (Chair)
 * Recreation