Chicago Ald. Howard B. Brookins (21st Ward) has become the newest member of City Council to announce retirement.
On Sept. 7, he stated that he will retire at the end of his term, CBS Chicago reported.
Brookinswhose ward includes parts of the Chatham, Auburn Gresham, Longwood Manor, Washington Heights and Brainerd neighborhoodschairs the City Council Transportation Committee, and has been in office since 2003.
Among other accomplishments, he established a reparations fund for victims of notorious former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge, whose crew of detectives tortured suspects into false murder confessions in the 1970s and 1980s.
Other City Council members who have announced they are not seeking re-election include Alds. Tom Tunney (44th Ward), James Cappleman (46th), Michele Smith (43rd), Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th), Harry Osterman (48th), Leslie Hairston (5th) and Carrie Austin (34th). Austin said she will not run again after being indicted on federal bribery charges.
Three other members of the councilAlds. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward), Sophia King (4th) and Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th)are running for mayor next year against Lightfoot, so they are unable to seek re-election as City Council members. Ald. George Cardenas (12th Ward) will exit the council before the end of his term should he be elected in November to serve on the Cook County's Board of Review.