Watch CBS News

Mayor Taps Former Preckwinkle Aide To Replace Treasurer Stephanie Neely

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel has tapped a former top aide to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to replace City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, who is stepping down at the end of November.

WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports former Preckwinkle chief of staff Kurt Summers Jr. pledged to keep his eye on where he came from as he faces new challenges plaguing the city's pension funds.

Summers was born and raised on the South Side, has a master's degree from Harvard Business School, and said he never forgot the people who helped him – a young black man – get to this day.

"Today, I can tell you without equivocation, that it will be my mission to invest our financial capital in our future, in our youth, in our Chicago," he said after the mayor formally nominated him to replace Neely on Wednesday.

Podcast

Though supporters in Bronzeville applauded the mayor's announcement of Summers as his pick to replace Neely, Emanuel was asked why he didn't ask for other candidates to apply to finish Neely's unexpired term before the city elections next year.

The mayor said the city treasurer sits on pension boards, and the seat should be filled by someone ho wants to be there more than just a few months.

"If you have 20 board meetings on pension decisions, including whether Jon Burge should get a pension, I think the taxpayers, the retirees, and the employees deserve better than a seat-warmer," Emanuel said.

The mayor also said he wanted someone with Summers' work ethic and integrity.

Summers said he'll run hard in February's election for the post.

"I've worked for everything I've done in my life. I'm going to work for this job, and it��s going to be up to the people," he said.

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois) fully supported Summers, who once interned for him, but he said the process shut out other qualified candidates.

"The person is perfect, but I just think that this … is Chicago style, and can't be repeated again," he said.

As an African-American running for citywide office, Summers' presence on the ticket in February undoubtedly will help Emanuel to some degree.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.