Matt Brewer, South Side native, entrepreneur, attorney, and former CEO and Board Chair of the Chicago Housing Authority, today announced his candidacy for Mayor of Chicago. Brewer is running on a vision of a city that moves forward without leaving people behind.
Brewer brings a rare combination of public, private, and nonprofit leadership to the race, including serving as CEO of the nation’s third-largest public housing authority, as well as a small business owner, nonprofit founder, and attorney.
Brewer is running to increase the supply of affordable housing, invest in workforce development so today’s workers aren’t left behind by tomorrow’s economy, develop a concrete economic growth plan to bring new businesses and jobs to Chicago, rebuild trust through a government that prioritizes accountability over politics, and make Chicago safer by addressing root causes alongside intervention and enforcement.
“Chicago can attract new businesses and jobs and invest in the communities that have too often been overlooked. We don’t have to choose between economic growth and community investment. The answer is both,” Brewer said.
He argues the next mayor will need to wear many hats to lead the city through an unprecedented era of governance – with reduced mayoral control over schools and transportation, agencies that have been embattled in power struggles, and a city council that has operated independently from the mayor.
“The decisions we make over the next four years will impact this city for the next 40 years. This is not a time for politics as usual. We need a mayor for this moment to move our city forward without leaving people behind.”
Matt Brewer grew up in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. He holds degrees from Stanford University, Yale Law School, and Harvard Business School. He is the founder of multiple businesses and community initiatives, including Chicago’s first Black-owned cannabis dispensary, and most recently served as CEO and Board Chair of the Chicago Housing Authority, overseeing one of the nation’s largest public housing systems.
For more information, visit mattbrewer.com or follow the campaign on social media at @brewer4chicago.
