Evanston is seeing a shift in city leadership as staffing changes were officially announced this July, impacting the city’s legal team and deputy city managers.
Alexandra Ruggie, who was serving as the city’s interim corporation counsel, was selected to keep the position permanently. Ruggie has worked in the city’s legal department for more than eight years, according to a news release, and ultimately became the deputy city attorney in January 2023 before taking over as interim corporation counsel in August 2023.
“Her vast experience and knowledge have been instrumental in providing guidance and ensuring that the City operates transparently and in compliance with the law,” City Manager Luke Stowe said.
According to the news release, Ruggie completed her undergraduate studies at Beloit College in Wisconsin before getting her law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago Law School.
Her appointment follows the exit of former Corporation Counsel Nicholas Commings, whose tenure ended on Aug. 11, 2023. Cummings left the city after working for Evanston for more than three years and helping to solidify the basis of the city’s reparations program.
Stowe announced the appointment of two new deputy city managers, Cárina Sánchez and Stephen Ruger, on July 9.
“I am confident that Mrs. Sanchez and Mr. Ruger are exceptionally qualified to excel in their roles due to their extensive experience and expertise in city government,” Stowe said. “Their combined skillsets and knowledge will be instrumental in our ongoing commitment to serving the Evanston community with transparency, fairness and dedication to meeting the needs of all community members.”
Sánchez comes to Evanston from Chicago where she not only took care of complex, large-scale projects but was also the first Latina to hold her position as the executive director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago. She was also the first Latina to serve as Chicago’s deputy clerk where she helped oversee a $10 million budget.
With this new role, she will become the first Latina to serve as permanent deputy city manager in Evanston.
Sanchez is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where she got her undergraduate degree in political science and Latin American studies, alongside her master’s in business administration from National Louis University.
Ruger is joining Sanchez in transitioning to life in Evanston’s local government. The new deputy city manager is coming from Trinidad, Colorado, a city of roughly 8,000 residents near the New Mexico border, where he served as city manager.
He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and an undergraduate degree in sociology from Wichita State University, according to a news release.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.