Evanston’s City Council is back to full strength after the council unanimously approved Krissie Harris to fill the Second Ward seat.
The City announced Harris as Mayor Daniel Biss’s selection on Friday, setting her up to succeed former City Council Member Peter Braithwaite, who resigned in July. After the vote, Biss said he was impressed by Harris’s level of involvement in numerous local organizations.
“When I first saw your application, I thought it was like a fake; How can one person have done so many things?” Biss said. “The number of different community activities and groups and organizations that you were giving serious time to, not putting your name on a list, but digging in, doing the work, bringing more people on board, is really, really inspiring.”
Harris is a 49-year resident of Evanston, and works as the manager of student life and campus inclusion at Oakton Community College. Council Member Devon Reid (8th Ward) spoke highly of her work there, having met her when she was the coordinator of student activities while he studied at Oakton.
“Krissie was so involved in the day-to-day activities of students and making sure that students had everything they need, not only to be successful in school, but be successful members of the wider community,” Reid said. “I’m just honored that we’re bringing that experience and that passion and dedication for serving folks, for serving young folks, onto our council.”
After giving her oaths of office and posing for a photo with Biss and members of her family, Harris joined her new colleagues on the dais and gave her first official remarks as a City Council member.
“I appreciate the community in which I live and serve, they have poured so much into me that it makes this easy and effortless, to be up here, to continue to serve,” Harris said. “This appointment is not just about me, it’s about the community. And I look forward to working with everyone.”
Harris will serve on the City Council until a special election is held in spring 2023, in which she and other 2nd Ward residents will be able to run for the final two years of Braithwaite’s term.