Preckwinkle tabs Chicago Park District leader as new county budget director

Tanya Anthony, the current chief administrative officer of the Chicago Park District, is Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's choice to be the county's next budget director, officials announced Monday.

Preckwinkle will present Anthony's appointment at the July 1 County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Anthony has been the Chicago Park District's chief administrative officer since 2011. In that role, she provided executive leadership in areas such as procurement, employment, communications, information technology and general administrative services.

"Tanya Anthony is an outstanding candidate for Cook County budget director," Preckwinkle said. "As part of our search we interviewed numerous candidates from both the Chicago area and across the country, and Tanya emerged as our clear choice."

Anthony began her career as a Cook County correctional officer in 1995. She then shifted to public finance with the city of Chicago from 2000-2006, and served as the Chicago Park District's director of the office of management and budget until 2011.

As chief administrative officer for the park district, Anthony implemented programs to reduce expenditures and increase efficiencies, such as automating processes and implementing reverse auctions for the purchase of goods and services, according to a statement from Preckwinkle's office. She also established a department which was responsible for improving the quality of the district's workforce through evaluation, and providing educational opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Anthony is a U.S. Army veteran. She has a master's degree in Public Administration from Governors State University and a master's degree in Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management.

She succeeds Andrea Gibson, who left the position in May to become director of project management of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System.