Alderman Latasha R. Thomas

After being appointed 17th Ward Alderman by former Mayor Richard M. Daley in July 2000, the residents of the 17th Ward elected Latasha R. (Johnson) Thomas to the post by a 4-to-1 margin in February 2001. She won re-election in February 2003 by a 4-to-1 margin.

Education
Thomas has been a resident of the 17th Ward for most of her life. After graduating from Kenwood High School she received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois and her law degree from DePaul University. During her studies, Alderman Thomas was very active in the Black Student Union at the University of Illinois and the Black Law Students Association at DePaul. She was also Editor-in-Chief of the National Black Student Association's newsletter, "The Fourteenth Amendment."

Experience
Thomas earned her stripes as law clerk to Circuit Court Judge Odas Nicholson and in the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel; as a staff attorney with CARPLS (a legal aid and referral service organization) and began her own private practice in 1994. She joined the Department of Human Services in 1997 as Associate Director of the Children Services Division (which would later become the Department of Children and Youth Services). Thomas was responsible for restructuring the multi-million dollar division’s staffing and operations, before being elevated to the post of Director of Intergovernmental Relations in April 2000. While in this role, Thomas was responsible for overseeing department communication and collaboration with federal, state and local government agencies.

Her Platform
During her 8 years as Alderman, Thomas has worked to change the overall perception of the Englewood and Auburn Gresham communities among non-residents, along with the amount of investment and support coming from local residents and business owners in strengthening their ward’s neighborhoods. She has steadfastly pushed commercial and residential redevelopment in the 17th Ward, and her original pledge to “take the community to the next level” is the driving force behind her effort to compliment commercial development that is currently underway with significant residential development to transform and revitalize the ward’s neighborhoods.

Education
Improving our city’s schools and educational opportunities has always been a top priority for Thomas. As Alderman, she has worked to acquire funding which enabled many17th Ward schools to be renovated and spawned a number of campus park facilities throughout the ward. She currently serves as Chairperson of the City Council Education Committee, responsible for addressing those issues relative to educating residents of the city. In addition to her year-round efforts and events aimed at improving the quality of life for residents, Thomas hosts or sponsors essay contests, serves on several educational committees and provides various incentives for both parents and children to aggressively persue a love of learning and involvement in the educational process.

Family
Alderman Thomas and her husband, Timothy Thomas, Jr. - Deputy Commissioner in the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Mayors’ Office of Special Events - have two children: Victoria, 18; and Timothy III, 15.