Miguel del Valle, elected as Clerk of the City of Chicago, was sworn in on December 1st, 2006. With a staff of 120, the City Clerk is the second highest ranking official and the most visited office in City Hall. The City Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining official records of city government, issuing all dog, business and other city licenses and distributing more than 1.1 million vehicle stickers.
City Clerk del Valle is bringing more efficiency, visibility and access to City Clerk services for all Chicago residents. City Clerk del Valle is providing greater access to public records on the website, increasing the number of distribution sites for vehicle stickers, expanding community outreach programs and services, and modernizing
operations to expedite the sale of city stickers, residential parking permits and dog licenses.
Strong Independent Leader:
For more than three decades Miguel del Valle has been an independent voice, tireless community advocate and a dedicated public servant for people in Chicago and the State of Illinois. He has fought for open and transparent government, stronger consumer protections, education funding reform, and better healthcare and social service programs throughout his 20-year tenure as a State Senator in the Illinois General Assembly.
Community Roots:
Del Valle's life is a true American success story, beginning 51 years ago when his family immigrated to Chicago from Puerto Rico when he was only four years old. He attended Chicago Public Schools and graduated from what is now Roberto Clemente High School. He then went on to earn a B.A. and M.A. from Northeastern Illinois University in education and guidance.
Del Valle has deep roots in the community and first-hand knowledge of working with and helping people. He served as director at Barreto Boys and Girls Club a unit of the Union League Foundation and as executive director of Association House, a human service agency, where del Valle worked with Chicago seniors, people with disabilities, neighbors with alchohol and drug problems and at-risk children. He has also worked for the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Pilsen-Little Village Mental Health Center.
State Senator:
In 1987, del Valle was elected the first Hispanic Senator in the Illinois General Assembly where he served 20 years, rising through the ranks to become Illinois' first Hispanic Assistant Majority Leader. While representing Chicago's northwest side, he was Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and a member of the Senate Executive, Labor and Higher Education committees. He also co-chaired the Senate Select Committee on Education Funding Reform.
Community Advocate:
As an outspoken voice for increased minority representation in the legislative and judicial branches of government, his leadership in redistricting cases in 1981, 1991 and 2001 led to the creation of more fairly balanced districts on the city, county and state levels, and the election of more women, Latinos, and African Americans to the
judiciary.
Del Valle was the first non-African-American member of the Illinois Black Legislative Caucus, on which he served for 15 years. He co-founded and co-chaired the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and founded the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees. In adddition, he co-founded the Illinois Latino Advisory Council on Higher Education and the Alliance of Latinos and Jews.
He also served as Mayor Harold Washington's Chairman on a Mayoral Advisory Commission and as a board member of several not-for-profit organizations including Josephinum High School, and the Latino Institute and the Spanish Coalition for Housing. Del Valle resides on the near northwest side. He and his wife of 36 years have four children and three grandchildren.
|
