CITY HALL — Mayor Rahm Emanuel Monday tapped a 17-year veteran of City Hall to serve as his chief of staff.
Joe Deal, who lives in the South Loop with his wife and daughter, will take over Dec. 1 from Eileen Mitchell, who is stepping down to "pursue other professional endeavors," according to a statement from the mayor's office.
No salary was announced but Mitchell was paid $195,000 per year.
Emanuel praised Deal, 47, who has served in his administration for five years, as someone with "a wealth of city experience and institutional knowledge."
Deal will build on the "progress we have made over the past five years," Emanuel said.
Deal promised to continue working to enhance "the quality of life of all residents of Chicago."
While announcing Deal's appointment in a statement, Emanuel praised Mitchell for "saving the city's pension funds and passing two budgets to negotiating a teacher's contract and reforming our public safety accountability system."
The mayor's deputy chief of staff, Deal was also the city's chief operating officer for three years.
In addition, Deal served as an assistant to former Mayor Richard M. Daley focused on water issues.
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