Jesse Ruiz (politician)
Jesse H. Ruiz (born February 17, 1965) is an American politician, lawyer, and businessman. He has previously held the positions of deputy governor of Illinois for education, chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, president of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, vice president of the Chicago Board of Education, and interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools. He currently works in the private sector as chief compliance officer and general counsel to the Vistria Group. He also currently serves as a member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Jesse Ruiz | |
|---|---|
Ruiz in 2018 | |
| Deputy Governor of Illinois for Education | |
| In office January 2019 – August 2021 | |
| Governor | J. B. Pritzker |
| Succeeded by | Martin Torres |
| President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners | |
| In office January 13, 2016 – 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bryan Traubert |
| Succeeded by | Avis LaVelle |
| Interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools | |
| In office April 20, 2015 – July 27, 2015 | |
| Mayor | Rahm Emanuel |
| Preceded by | Barbara Byrd-Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Forrest Claypool |
| Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education | |
| In office September 2004 – May 2011 | |
| Governor | Rod Blagojevich Pat Quinn |
| Preceded by | Janet Steiner |
| Succeeded by | Gery Chico |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 17, 1965 Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Michele |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (BA) University of Chicago Law School (JD) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature | |
As a lawyer, Ruiz spent more than two decades as a partner at the firm Drinker Biddle & Reath. He is the former president of the Chicago Bar Association
Ruiz has been on the boards of a number of nonprofits, including the Chicago Community Trust. Ruiz also spent many years as a member of the board of directors for the company Commonwealth Edison.
In 2018, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination for Illinois Attorney General.