Mayor Brandon Johnson is appointing Walter “Red” Burnett to the City Council seat vacated by Burnett’s father, the mayor’s administration said Friday.
Burnett’s appointment to the 27th Ward seat must be approved by aldermen, a vote expected this month. Once confirmed, the 29-year-old will take the office held for 30 years by his father, former Ald. Walter Burnett Jr.
“The 27th Ward deserves a leader who is well-attuned to the challenges we face as we continue to grow and strengthen our communities,” Johnson said in a news release announcing the decision. “Red embodies the values, resilience, and vision of the 27th Ward. With his long-standing commitment to public service, equity, and young people, I have no doubt he will be a dedicated and effective advocate of his community.
The younger Burnett will lead a ward that stretches from Cabrini Green and the future Bally’s Casino site to the soaring Fulton Market district and struggling Garfield Park.
Burnett, who grew up near Union Park in a powerful political family, formerly worked for Goldman Sachs before moving back to Chicago three years ago, where he has since consulted for developers, restaurants, retailers and entrepreneurs. He thanked Johnson and said the appointment is “an immense privilege that I do not take lightly” in the news release.
“Throughout my professional journey I’ve maintained a steadfast commitment to community advancement — working alongside civic leaders, private sector partners, and grassroots organizations to deliver projects that generate lasting impact and serve the public good,” he wrote. “This foundation informs my continued commitment to ensuring our neighborhoods remain vibrant, inclusive, and positioned for sustainable success.”
The clear front-runner since his father announced his resignation in July, Burnett previously told the Tribune top focuses will be expanding summer jobs and activities for teens and adding density in the West Side. He added that he hopes to balance bringing fresh perspective and maintaining stability in the office last held by Chicago’s longest-serving alderman.
“A big piece of what I think this role is is just making sure that people feel heard and understanding that my opinion isn’t really the only opinion I’m representing,” he said.
Johnson announced the news late Friday as many Chicagoans were preoccupied with the impending federal incursion or already logged off for the week. The mayor’s decision comes after many observers pegged the former alderman’s son as the frontrunner to inherit the seat.
Burnett is far from the first Chicagoan to take the political seat of a parent. Several City Council progressives complained about the last such appointment some years ago, Ald. Deb Mell, who took her father’s seat, but the now-larger progressive contingency has remained mum on Burnett’s long-expected appointment.
Burnett Jr. proved to be one of Johnson’s most critical allies as the two worked in City Hall together. He served as vice mayor, chair of the powerful Zoning Committee and as an unofficial, but essential peacemaker for Johnson.
Asked Friday about what it means to see his son take his seat, Burnett Jr. recalled getting ready for church when his son was around 5 years old. The older Burnett would put on a top hat, a black suit, a red tie and a red handkerchief.
“He told his mama he wanted to wear a suit and tie too. He was dressing like me and the deacon,” he said. “What else could a father wish for.”
His own expected appointment to the Chicago Housing Authority has been delayed amid warnings from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that it is reviewing potential conflicts of interest. Burnett Jr. said he hopes the holdup is resolved later this month. The former alderman said he was adding a new layer of maroon paint to his porch Friday afternoon.
He also recalled carrying his son in a bassinet to meetings before the younger Burnett could walk. Burnett’s brother, Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, is an Illinois state representative, and his mother, Darlena Williams-Burnett, previously served as a Cook County commissioner.
Burnett Jr. said he was more proud that his son has become a pastor’s assistant than all “the political stuff” and added that he is not surprised by the political newcomer’s ascent.
“He just lived around this stuff. Everyone who came in our house was a politician,” he said. “I thought he would be more into the money. But he doesn’t want a golden parachute. He wants to serve.”
Originally Published: September 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM CDT