Retiring City Council dean Walter Burnett said Thursday his 29-year-old namesake is not only his son but a “son of the 27th Ward” who has earned the right to replace him.
Some community leaders have argued that the city’s fastest-growing ward deserves better than a continuation of the old-school, all-in-the-family parade of Chicago politicians who have bequeathed their seats to their children.
Burnett doesn’t view it as nepotism. He believes Walter R. Burnett — who goes by the nickname “Red” — deserves to inherit his father’s mantle because he has built the “relationships and the resources” to continue the development progress that has transformed a ward that once included “skid row.”
“Don’t judge him based on him being my son. Judge him based on what he can bring to the table and what he can do for the ward and how he can help to continue these great things that we have going on,” Burnett said.
“He’s smart. He’s very well-read. He has the work ethic from working at Goldman Sachs. He has the popularity from being in the community and working with … young people. … He’s been knowing the Reinsdorfs and the Wirtz [family] all his life. They all know him. They love him. … Same thing with the Bally’s casino” executives.
Burnett said hat his thriving Near West Side Ward, which includes Fulton Market, is a mecca for young people. Nearly half the ward’s population will be under 35 when residential projects in the works are completed.
He said his son understands those young people. But he also knows and understands “the older folks” who have literally “seen him grow up.”
“I used to carry him in baskets to meetings with me. … Folks in the meeting used to pick him up outta the basket. He’s like a child of the 27th Ward. He’s the baby of the 27th Ward who grew up here, has relationships. Everyone sees him as being part of their family of the 27th Ward,” Burnett said.
Although his son spent nearly 10 years in New York, Burnett said his son stayed connected to his likely soon-to-be constituents. Ultimately the mayor makes the appointment to fill a vacant City Council seat.
“Folks know him and respect him, and they like him,” Burnett said. “So I say, give him a chance and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how hard he would work, how committed he would be, how much compassion he would have for the people of the ward.”
The Daley, Madigan, Burke and Lipinski families are just a few of the political dynasties that have taken care of their own. Political nepotism is part of the fabric in Chicago.
“I don’t feel as though we’re entitled. But I feel like it’s a natural transition. It’s just something that happens and people accept. They know that those people know how to do the job, how to get it done, how to connect,” Burnett said.
Burnett’s political retirement — and his imminent appointment to lead the Chicago Housing Authority — leaves Mayor Brandon Johnson with three jobs to fill: 27th Ward alderperson; vice mayor and Zoning Committee chair.
A veteran political dealmaker known for his ability to forge political compromise, Burnett urged Johnson to use those three bargaining chips — maybe four if somebody moves up — to cut a deal that can appease the Black and Hispanic caucuses.
To ease tensions with the Council showcased during last year’s budget stalemate, Burnett also urged Johnson to “include everyone” and reach out to his most outspoken critics.
“He can’t limit himself with anyone. Whether their philosophy is different than yours, you need to talk to Anthony Beale and Marty Quinn and Brendan Reilly. He needs to talk to them and make them understand that if we lose as a city, everybody loses,” Burnett said.
“Marty and Reilly come from Madigan. They know how to cut a deal. They know how to help move things forward if they want to. They know how to get a budget adjusted. But, they just got to come on board and play,” he said.
For his part, Johnson on Thursday told WBEZ’s Reset the community would have input to the appointment process for the aldermanic seat but added that Burnett’s “recommendation does have value.”
Burnett is a consummate consensus-builder who has served under four Chicago mayors during his 30 years on the Council: Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emanuel, Lori Lightfoot and Johnson.
He learned how to get along with all of them and play follow the leader.
Burnett recalled clashing with a mayor only once: with Daley over the issue of affordable housing with support from Burnett’s political patron, then-Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.
Burnett expected to be punished by the notoriously vindictive Daley, but it didn’t happen.
“He saw my heart. … If I would fight that much for something I believe is right, he figured that this is a good guy to have on our team. He gave me a committee after that. That’s how smart he was,” Burnett said.