Preckwinkle appoints Hispanic woman as key aide

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has named Anel Ruiz, currently community outreach liaison coordinator in her office, as her new deputy chief of staff. Ruiz replaces Tasha Cruzat, who was promoted to chief of staff after the previous chief left to run for state's attorney. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Ruiz, 33, was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago at the age of 18. She joined the administration in December 2013 as community outreach liaison, where she worked on developing and staffing a number of ethnic advisory councils.

Ruiz previously was operations and development director at Free Spirit Media, which provides education, access and opportunity in media production to underserved urban youth. From 2008 to 2012, she was communications manager and development project officer at the National Museum of Mexican Art. She also has worked at El Valor, a social service agency, and run a mentorship program at the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. She is a board member of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.