Meet Jessica

Jessica Vasquez has devoted her career to advancing equity in Cook County through public service, grassroots advocacy, and transformative policy work. Born and raised on the northwest side in Belmont Cragin, she was appointed 8th District Cook County Commissioner on May 4, 2025. She is the first woman to represent Cook County and the first Colombian American to hold public office in the state of Illinois.

Prior to serving the 8th District, Jessica served as the Chief of Staff for former 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. During her time as Chief of Staff, Jessica helped coordinate efforts to win Lucy Gonzalez-Parsons, a 100-unit, 100% affordable housing development in the heart of Logan Square. She was also instrumental in managing and leading the 35th Ward’s $1.5 million public infrastructure investments through a participatory budgeting process, which included playground improvements for Nixon Elementary in Hermosa, investments in Athletic Field Park’s baseball diamonds in Irving Park, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in Logan Square and Avondale. She oversaw efforts to hold negligent landlords accountable and worked closely with various city departments and city leadership on special projects such as the Centennial Redesign in Logan Square, the First Nations Garden in Albany Park, and the rededication of Fireman’s Park Mural in Avondale.

Prior to her government work, Jessica worked in education at Adler University, where she oversaw nonprofit partnerships and community engagement with graduate students. She has also worked at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and People’s Action Institute to support immigration reform and economic justice efforts at the state and national levels.

As Cook County Commissioner, Jessica is focused on protecting healthcare access for Cook County Health, Hospitals & Clinics, providing support for property tax relief through appeals and advocacy, and making Cook County resources more accessible for our residents.

Jessica earned a B.A. in Political Science from DePaul University and an M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago. She resides in Logan Square with her partner and rescue cat. 

Experience

  • Introduced a resolution denouncing the deceptive and callous ICE tactics targeting immigrant families and requesting official reports from Cook County agencies, departments and offices of any interaction with federal agents
  • Voted for $8.6 million in funding for the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program
  • Voted for wage increases for unionized Cook County Employees (Coalition of Unionized Public Employees)
  • Voted to acquire 62 acres of land to expand our Forest Preserves system in Cook County
  • Pushed for the opening of the dental wing at the Cook County Health Belmont Cragin Health Clinic
  • Advocated against Brandon Johnson’s proposed Property tax increase as Chief of Staff for former 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa.
  • Helped lead the charge to abolish the subminimum wage alongside our progressive leaders on the northwest side.
  • Assisted with the passage of the Chicago Bodily Autonomy ordinance that guarantees protections for abortions and gender affirming care, including prohibiting discrimination based on abortion access or gender identity.
  • Coordinated meetings with stakeholders, city officials, and developers to help build the Lucy Gonzalez Parsons apartment complex, a 100-unit, 100% affordable transit-oriented development in Logan Square, and the OSO Apartments, a 48-unit affordable housing project in Albany Park.
  • Oversaw city investments in infrastructure across the northwest side, including lighting for the baseball diamonds at Athletic Field in Irving Park, the Fireman’s Park mural re-dedication in Avondale, the rebuild of the Nixon Elementary playground, and the Centennial Redesign in Logan Square.
  • Helped to establish and currently co-chairs the Northwest Side Rapid Response Team, a volunteer network of 200+ neighbors working together to defend immigrant families from Trump’s attacks on our families in the Northwest Side
  • Worked with students and fast food workers to advocate for an increase to the minimum wage from $8.25 an hour to $15.00, helping to win increased wages in 2020.
  • Assisted with the passage of Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses for undocumented families in the State of Illinois in 2013