Gery Chico knows first-hand what it takes to run a small business. He is a Senior Partner of the Chicago law firm, Chico & Nunes, P.C., where he manages 30 employees. The firm was founded in April of 2004. Prior to that, he served as Special Counsel to the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr in 2003 and 2004. He was senior partner at Altheimer & Gray from 1996 through 2003. He was a partner at Sidley & Austin in 1995 and 1996. Gery has also served as General Counsel to the Chicago Development Council, the City's largest real estate development association. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, losing to Barack Obama, who was elected President four years later.
There are very few individuals more effective, energetic and dedicated to public service than Gery Chico. Gery has taken on the tough challenges facing Chicago and prevailed. Through his hard work and love for the City, Gery has made lasting improvements to our schools and parks, the City’s educational system, and Chicago's neighborhoods-making Chicago an even better place to live. Gery's service to the City started with the Chicago Department of Planning, where he worked on retaining and attracting businesses to maintain the City's economic vitality. He displayed a "get to the bottom of it" style that would characterize his leadership for years to come. He walked through the City's communities and talked to and met face-to-face with business owners to hear and address their concerns. He made sure they had what they needed to remain in and expand their presence in Chicago. He later served as a senior staff member for the Chicago City Council's Finance Committee. Through his committed work ethic, Gery would later serve as Chicago Mayoral Chief of Staff, President of Chicago Public Schools, President of the Chicago Park District and Chairman of Chicago City Colleges. And each step along the way, Gery has worked tirelessly to make certain the City operates efficiently and effectively in meeting the needs of its citizens.
Mayor's Chief of Staff Gery served as Mayor Richard M. Daley's Chief of Staff from 1992 through 1995, where he initiated the Neighborhoods Alive program that brought new streets, alleys, police stations, fire stations and libraries to all Chicago neighborhoods. He was instrumental in adding 1,000 new police officers to the Chicago Police Department in 1993, and he helped reduce the Head Tax, a tax Chico believes penalizes Chicago employers for providing jobs. Gery wants to eliminate the Head Tax entirely. Gery gained a reputation for effectively managing City government with such tools as-the Time Line Management System, which sought to coordinate all major neighborhood improvement projects by keeping them on time and on budget. He took his staff out from behind their desks and onto Chicago's streets, holding staff meetings in vans, so they could see first-hand how government services like health and police services, and water and sewer repair jobs, were being carried out. These trips into Chicago's neighborhoods led to the posting of signs informing citizens of the nature and length of projects, and providing a phone number to call if they had any questions. Gery helped lead the way in the demolition of abandoned buildings throughout the City, removing neighborhood blight and nesting places for criminal activity.
President, Chicago Public Schools It was 1995, and U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett had labeled Chicago's public schools "the worst in the country." Buildings were in ruins, and labor management relations were at an all-time low, resulting in actual strikes or the threat of one occurring every year. Finances were horrible, with a projected multi-year cumulative deficit of $1.3 billion. Academic performance was abysmal. Test scores were usually released Friday evenings so they could be buried in Saturday's less read news. Our schools needed help, and the Mayor turned to his Chief of Staff, Gery Chico to turn things around and lead as President of the Board of Trustees of Chicago Public Schools. It was the right move. Under Gery's leadership, and with the help of CPS CEO Paul Vallas, Chicago's public schools became a national model for school reform. When Chico and Vallas came aboard they immediately balanced the budget for each of the next five years. Labor peace with the teachers was brought about by executing two separate four-year teacher contracts, including the second one that was reached one year before the expiration of the first agreement. CPS undertook the most ambitious school construction program in CPS history, which led to construction of 65 new school facilities, the renovation of 375 schools, and the wiring of schools throughout the system to the Internet. Most important, Chico led the effort to bring back a fundamental curriculum to Chicago Public Schools which ended social promotion, brought about the largest summer school program in the nation, and led to years of student performance increases. As the Chicago Tribune said in its May 27, 2001 editorial, "Gery Chico, bravo."
President, Chicago Park District Nothing brings a neighborhood to life like a new playground. Gery brought about new and improved neighborhood playgrounds and recreational programs in virtually every Chicago community, while acquiring hundreds of acres of green space throughout the City. Gery balanced each year’s budget and led by example by donating all of his monthly stipends to help fund Park District programs. He expanded the reach of Park District facilities and programs by passing the first recreation bond to make park facilities throughout the City accessible to people with disabilities. Under his leadership, the Park District created a boardwalk to provide beach access for people in wheel chairs. Special equipment was made available at playgrounds and pools so people with disabilities could enjoy those facilities as well. Gery worked to make park facilities relevant to all age groups. Kid’s fitness programs were offered throughout the system to keep up with First Lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity initiative. Six new youth activity centers and six wellness centers were opened. Sixty-three certified physical instructors and nutritional education are now offered in 35 parks. Recognizing that many of the Park District's field houses were empty during the day, before school lets out, Gery saw to it that hundreds of programs for seniors were offered throughout the District to utilize existing buildings and facilities. Gery also launched ballroom dancing programs, offered by private vendors, at 9 City parks, with classes for children being offered for free. He also initiated the World Sport Chicago weight lifting program in 8 parks for 8-13-year-old boys and girls. Gery has helped attract private sector donations to our parks. Goldman Sachs is funding 10 artificial turf soccer fields.
Chairman, Chicago City Colleges Gery saw to it that his first City Colleges budget returned $3 million property tax dollars back to Chicago taxpayers. He made an immediate student impact by focusing on improved student advising and tutoring services and using technology to speed student access to grades. Chico also brought about Chicago City Colleges' first Inspector General, along with a team of investigators, to prevent fraud and corruption. He worked closely with colleagues and Chancellor Cheryl Hyman to shape a budget allowing for construction of as many as 3 new City College campuses.
Community Service Gery Chico volunteers hundreds of hours of his time to serve the greater Chicago community in a number of capacities. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Urban League, DePaul University, the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the Erikson Institute. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed him to the committee overseeing the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program. He was one of the founders of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce (now the 1400 member Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), and served as a member of the Chicago 2016 Olympics Committee. He remains active in many other professional, civic and charitable organizations, including the 21st Century Commission, After School Matters, the Catholic Church Extension Society, the Illinois Education Foundation and the Vatican Observatory Foundation. Gery has been a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Over the years, Chico has received many awards and honors including: the Person of the Year Award by the Latin-American Police Association; the President's Award by the National Association of Hispanic Publishers; the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award; the Distinguished Award for Excellence by the Illinois Bar Foundation; Citizen of the Year by the City Club of Chicago; Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education; the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Outstanding Public Service; Champion of the Public Interest by the Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, and Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine.
Gery and his wife Sunny live in Chicago. They have five children: Michelle, Sarah, Michael, Alyssa, and Rebecca, and one grandchild, David.