Chicago's Deputy Comptroller Moving Up

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CHICAGO – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel nominated Erin Keane, the city's first deputy comptroller, to replace Comptroller Dan Widawsky, who plans to move on May 1.

Keane will join the mayor's cabinet, taking over one of three key city finance positions. Carole Brown is chief financial officer and Alex Holt is budget director. Keane will serve as acting comptroller until her appointment is reviewed by the City Council.

"With Erin's nomination, the city's many budget and financial initiatives will now be led by three exceptional women. Erin's extensive knowledge of city operations, budget and finances will be central to our ongoing work to right the city's finances," Emanuel said in a statement.

As first deputy comptroller, Keane oversees day-to-day operations of the Department of Finance which includes preparation of the city's financial statements, administration of federal and state grants, city revenue collection, and management of the city's payroll and healthcare plans. She has worked for the last 15 years in various roles in the comptroller's office, the Department of Streets and Sanitation and Office of Budget and Management.

Widawsky is leaving May 1 to "pursue other professional endeavors," the mayor's office said. During Widawsky's tenure he helped carve out more than $20 million in employee healthcare cost savings and upgraded data analytics in the department of finance.

"During Dan's tenure, he helped my administration develop number of financial reforms which produced significant savings, and I thank him for his service to the city," Emanuel said in a statement.

Emanuel picked Widawsky to serve as comptroller in 2014. He replaced Emanuel's first comptroller, Amer Ahmad, who resigned just weeks before he was charged with corruption stemming from his previous tenure in the Ohio Treasurer's office.

Widawsky came from the private sector, having previously worked as a managing director at Citadel, LLC. He was a partner and senior member of the firm's financial team, overseeing activities associated with a number of Citadel's largest and most successful transactions and initiatives. Widawsky also served as a senior executive at GE, and prior to that, was a vice president at NBC.

The comptroller also serves on the city's pension funds and the office has in the past had a say on city debt management although those duties are currently managed by the CFO.

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