March 16, 2016

Mayor Emanuel Names Anna Valencia as New Director of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs (LCGA)

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today appointed Anna Valencia to be the City’s new Director of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs (LCGA), a key office that serves as liaison with elected officials, government agencies and community organizations at the local, state and federal levels.

Valencia replaces Michael Rendina, who has been promoted to the role of Mayor Emanuel’s Senior Advisor. She will begin to serve in her new role on April 1.

“As we continue to move Chicago forward and create opportunities for residents in every neighborhood, Anna’s relationships in both Springfield and Chicago make her a natural choice to lead our legislative team,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Her ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders and elected officials will be an asset to the City of Chicago.”

From 2011 through 2014, Valencia worked as an Assistant to Mayor Emanuel in Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs, where she focused on education initiatives and infrastructure projects in Chicago neighborhoods. She also worked on Mayor Emanuel’s 2011 and 2015 campaigns. She has experience working in government and on political campaigns, recently managing Senator Dick Durbin’s re-election campaign and having previously worked for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. In the past year, she has served as the Founder and Principal of AVK Advisors, LLC, a strategy and government relations firm. She grew up in Granite City, Illinois and earned her bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She currently lives in West Town with her husband and dog.

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