Sydney Holman Named to Lead Chicago’s Intergovernmental Affairs Office

Mayor Brandon Johnson has reinforced his administration’s legislative team by appointing Sydney Holman as Deputy Mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs. This strategic selection brings an accomplished public servant with extensive experience across multiple levels of government to guide Chicago’s legislative priorities.

The appointment positions Holman to orchestrate the mayor’s legislative agenda through city, state, and federal channels. Her selection underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing Chicago’s multifaceted challenges through experienced leadership and collaborative governance.

In announcing the appointment, Mayor Johnson highlighted the significance of Holman’s diverse governmental background. “The breadth of Sydney’s experience makes her exceptionally qualified to address our city’s most pressing challenges,” Johnson stated. He emphasized her proven ability to unite stakeholders and craft solutions that serve specific community needs and broader city interests.

The transition follows Beth Beatty’s successful tenure, whose leadership yielded several landmark legislative achievements. Under Beatty’s guidance, the city secured passage of transformative measures, including One Fair Wage legislation, the Bring Chicago Home initiative, and expanded Paid Leave provisions. Her final accomplishment involved successfully stewarding the city’s budget through the approval process.

Holman arrives at City Hall with substantial policy and legislative expertise. Her immediate past role at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies involved developing comprehensive legislative strategies and conducting policy advocacy across diverse issue areas. Previously, she served in Governor JB Pritzker’s administration, holding key positions, including Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and House Liaison of Legislative Affairs.

During her state government service, Holman demonstrated skill in advancing progressive initiatives, successfully shepherding legislation addressing pension reform, business development, gaming regulation, higher education enhancement, and healthcare accessibility. Her experience extends to county government, where she served as Legislative Coordinator for State Legislative Affairs in the Cook County Board President’s Office.

Additional governmental experience includes her role as a research and appropriations analyst for the Illinois House Speaker’s Office, which provided her with a comprehensive understanding of legislative processes across multiple governmental levels. This varied background gives her unique insights into intergovernmental cooperation and policy implementation.

Upon accepting the position, Holman expressed her commitment to advancing meaningful change for Chicago residents. “Working alongside the City Council and various governmental bodies to implement transformative legislation for Chicago’s working families stands as my highest priority,” Holman stated, emphasizing her dedication to realizing Mayor Johnson’s legislative vision.

Her educational background combines creative studies from Columbia College Chicago with business acumen as she pursues an MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This academic foundation complements her extensive practical experience in governmental affairs and policy development.

The selection of Holman reinforces Mayor Johnson’s strategy of building a capable administrative team equipped to address Chicago’s complex urban challenges. Her appointment reflects the administration’s emphasis on experienced leadership in pursuing progressive policy objectives while maintaining solid intergovernmental relationships.

As Chicago confronts evolving civic challenges, Holman’s role will be instrumental in coordinating legislative responses and building effective partnerships across governmental entities. Her appointment positions the Johnson administration to advance its legislative priorities while ensuring responsive governance for Chicago’s diverse communities.

This leadership transition is crucial as Chicago implements several major policy initiatives. Holman is poised to play a central role in shaping the city’s legislative direction and advancing Mayor Johnson’s community-focused agenda.