Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson tries to influence City Council reorganization

The Chicago City Council at its May 16, 2022, meeting, during which it passed a new ward map. An expansion of the number of committees — to 28 — and the chairs assigned to those committees passed last month, but it may not last. (Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times)

Brandon Johnson’s allies and transition advisers are working behind the scenes to put the mayor-elect’s stamp on the new City Council by tweaking the reorganization approved last month and installing more Johnson loyalists as key committee chairs.  

Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Johnson’s transition team, refused to pinpoint specific changes amid reports that Finance Chair Scott Waguespack (32nd), Aviation Chair Matt O’Shea (19th), License Chair Emma Mitts (37th) — as well as Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) and Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), chairs of the newly created Committees on Executive Appointments and Building Standards — could be among those on the chopping block.