Ricardo Muñoz
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Muñoz is alderman of the 22nd ward of the City of Chicago
. Muñoz was appointed to this position by Mayor Richard M. Daley
in 1993.
in 1993, to replace his mentor Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who left for the Illinois Senate. Munoz was Garcia’s chief of staff, and Garcia had recommended Muñoz as his replacement.
Muñoz was the youngest member of the City Council when he first joined the body in 1993. "Alderman Ricardo Muñoz is one of the few independents on the City Coucil who isn't afraid to speak out against the mayor when he sees fit," wrote the Chicago Tribune in endorsing Muñoz for re-election in February 2003. "He has presented a number of innovative ideas… a terrific choice for voters."
Muñoz intervened to help his daughter, whose test scores weren't high enough, get into a prestigious city high school. Muñoz acknowledged August 13, 2009 that he called Whitney Young High School's principal Joyce Kenner to find a spot for his daughter who could not get in on merit. Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott disclosed that he had been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury
investigating how students are chosen for admission to the elite public schools. School officials released copies of a July 21, 2009 subpoena
demanding the names of every student who applied to be among a select group of students hand-picked by principals of the elite high schools. The subpoena also sought e-mails and other correspondence with "public officials" about applicants. Chicago Public Schools
' inspector general
is investigating whether Muñoz violated rules. Chicago Public Schools
District Chief Executive Ron Huberman
launched an internal investigation, and the Muñoz case is part of that probe.
On August 2, 2010 Muñoz took the unusual step of outing himself as an alcoholic just six months before standing for re-election.
, he and his wife, Betty, own a home in the Little Village community. They are the parents of Whitney Young graduate Ricardo Alejandro and Whitney Young student Angelica Maria Muñoz.
Muñoz's father, Elias Muñoz, a legal Mexican immigrant, operated Nuevo Foto Muñoz at 3105 W. 26th St., in the Little Village Discount Mall, though not in the 22nd Ward. In April, 2007, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
agents searched the shop as part of an investigation dubbed "Operation Paper Tiger." On May 29, 2007, Elias Muñoz was charged with conspiracy to produce false identification documents and aiding and abetting. Elias Muñoz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison and two additional years of probation. When asked by Pam Zekman about his father Elias' involvement in the identification ring for a television report in May, 2006, Alderman Muñoz said, "That shouldn't be taking place – bottom line."
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Muñoz was appointed to this position by Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
in 1993.
Aldermanic career
Muñoz, 45, was first appointed by Mayor Richard M. DaleyRichard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
in 1993, to replace his mentor Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who left for the Illinois Senate. Munoz was Garcia’s chief of staff, and Garcia had recommended Muñoz as his replacement.
Muñoz was the youngest member of the City Council when he first joined the body in 1993. "Alderman Ricardo Muñoz is one of the few independents on the City Coucil who isn't afraid to speak out against the mayor when he sees fit," wrote the Chicago Tribune in endorsing Muñoz for re-election in February 2003. "He has presented a number of innovative ideas… a terrific choice for voters."
Muñoz intervened to help his daughter, whose test scores weren't high enough, get into a prestigious city high school. Muñoz acknowledged August 13, 2009 that he called Whitney Young High School's principal Joyce Kenner to find a spot for his daughter who could not get in on merit. Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott disclosed that he had been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
investigating how students are chosen for admission to the elite public schools. School officials released copies of a July 21, 2009 subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
demanding the names of every student who applied to be among a select group of students hand-picked by principals of the elite high schools. The subpoena also sought e-mails and other correspondence with "public officials" about applicants. Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
' inspector general
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
is investigating whether Muñoz violated rules. Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
District Chief Executive Ron Huberman
Ron Huberman
Ron Huberman is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools system, the third largest public school system in the United States. Huberman oversaw a budget of over $6 billion. Prior to that, Huberman served as President of the Chicago Transit Authority.- Early life and...
launched an internal investigation, and the Muñoz case is part of that probe.
On August 2, 2010 Muñoz took the unusual step of outing himself as an alcoholic just six months before standing for re-election.
Personal life
Ricardo Muñoz was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and is currently the ranking Mexican-American member of the City Council. A graduate of Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, he and his wife, Betty, own a home in the Little Village community. They are the parents of Whitney Young graduate Ricardo Alejandro and Whitney Young student Angelica Maria Muñoz.
Muñoz's father, Elias Muñoz, a legal Mexican immigrant, operated Nuevo Foto Muñoz at 3105 W. 26th St., in the Little Village Discount Mall, though not in the 22nd Ward. In April, 2007, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
agents searched the shop as part of an investigation dubbed "Operation Paper Tiger." On May 29, 2007, Elias Muñoz was charged with conspiracy to produce false identification documents and aiding and abetting. Elias Muñoz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison and two additional years of probation. When asked by Pam Zekman about his father Elias' involvement in the identification ring for a television report in May, 2006, Alderman Muñoz said, "That shouldn't be taking place – bottom line."