Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Financial Future Task Force, created by Executive Order 2025-1, is a group of 24 civic leaders assembled by Mayor Brandon Johnson. The group’s mandate is to develop “practical, forward-looking options” for improving the city’s long-term fiscal health and address ongoing budget challenges. The focus extends beyond short-term budget balancing, aiming for equitable growth across all neighborhoods.

Co-chairing the task force are Karen Freeman-Wilson of the Chicago Urban League and Jim Reynolds of Loop Capital. Reynolds founded Loop Capital in 1997 and has guided it from a municipal bond-focused operation to a diversified investment banking firm. His background includes senior positions at Paine Webber and Merrill Lynch. Media reports have noted that he “began his muni career as a short-term bond trader in 1981.” He also leads an infrastructure division at Loop Capital.

Freeman-Wilson holds degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. She has experience in municipal finance law and served two terms as mayor of Gary, Indiana. Since January 2020, she has been President & CEO of the Chicago Urban League.

Ron DeNard leads the Efficiencies Subgroup within the task force. As Chief Financial Officer at United Way of Metro Chicago, DeNard manages finance and IT operations. His previous roles include leadership positions at Alcoa, L’Oréal/Softsheen-Carson Division, Exelon, Johnson Publishing Company, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and Senior Vice President of Finance for the Chicago Board of Education.

Dan Lurie heads the Revenues Subgroup Lead and serves as President & CEO of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC). Previously, he was Chief of Policy for the City of Chicago under Mayor Lori Lightfoot where he worked on policy areas such as housing, transportation land use, environment, care economy initiatives, and anti-poverty programs.

Other members include Adrienne Alexander from AFSCME Council 31; Carlos Cabrera Calderon from Cabrera Capital Partners; Carlos E. Calderon from Ariel Investments; Tyler Clark, founder of Inspire by Tyler; Annie McGowan from the Civic Federation; Ralph Martire from Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; Andrea Kluger from Chicago Federation of Labor; Jeffrey Howard from Salveo Capital; Pasquale Gianni with Teamsters Joint Council 25; Rocío Garcia with United Working Families; Julie Dworkin formerly with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

The composition brings together individuals with backgrounds ranging across public sector management, advocacy organizations, labor unions, private sector finance firms and community groups.

“Personnel is policy,” a phrase cited in discussions about government appointments, underscores how choices in leadership shape outcomes for such groups.