Alderman Will Burns Stepping Down To Take Job At Airbnb
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After serving five years on the City Council, Ald. Will Burns (4th) will resign next month to take a job in the private sector.
Burns, 42, has been hired as Midwest policy director and senior advisor for Airbnb, the website which allows homeowners to rent out rooms or entire homes.
"I am excited to join the Airbnb team and work to ensure that middle class families can continue sharing their homes and welcoming visitors from across the globe. As a native midwesterner, and longtime Chicagoan, I know firsthand the impact of bringing economic opportunity to new communities and looking forward to continuing that work at Airbnb," Burns said in a statement through Airbnb spokeswoman Catherine Turco.
His resignation from the City Council takes effect March 1.
After Burns officially steps down, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will have 60 days to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Burns' term.
Emanuel praised Burns for his work over the past five years:
"I want to congratulate Will Burns on this new chapter in his life, but we will certainly miss him as a City Council member. He has spent the last five years advocating for better public schools, attracting new business and improving economy in the Fourth Ward. He has also helped to increase transparency, efficiency, and accountability in city government. He can leave City Hall knowing he has helped to improve his community, and that he had a part in working to right Chicago's finances. I thank him for his time and commitment to public service, and wish him the best of luck."
Burns, a former state representative, was elected to the City Council in 2011, filling the seat vacated by Toni Preckwinkle after she was elected Cook County Board President in 2010. The 4th Ward spans parts of the Hyde Park, Kenwood, Washington Park, Bronzeville, and South Loop neighborhoods.
Any 4th Ward resident will be able to apply for the seat through the city's website, according to the mayor's office. An application and further information will be available soon.
