Director of communications resigns from Clark administration after nine months
He is the second person to exit from the role, tasked with handling media requests on behalf of the mayor's office, police, and other city departments, within the last year.
Another mayoral staff member has exited this month.
Jason Baumann, who served as Director of Communications for Harvey, resigned from the position this week, the HWH has confirmed.
Baumann coordinated press conferences for city officials before becoming the head of the city’s communications division last October.
He is the second person to exit from the position in nine months. In October, Giavonni Downing exited the role.
Downing served as the Director of Communications and External Affairs for the Village of Dolton before joining Mayor Christopher J. Clark’s administration in 2021.
Downing’s exit came weeks after many criticized the radio silence from the mayor’s office while residents in the Village of Dixmoor, which Harvey supplies water to, were without water for over a week. A water main break in Dixmoor near Interstate 57 was later found to be the cause of the outage.
Baumann is the founder and chief social strategist for Boxless Media, a startup launched in 2013 that helps companies grow using social media.
It’s unclear why he resigned. Baumann could not be reached for a request for comment.
Sign up for The Renaissance Letter, our free email newsletter
Get the latest headlines from the Harvey World Herald right in your inbox.
Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editoral trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter. Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She is also a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Amethyst was recently a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views, where she covered health and COVID-19 for the NABJ’s newly launched digital news service.
Amethyst is a Brooks Middle School ('11) and Thornton Township High School alum (‘15) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from NYU (BA'19). She recently completed the Data and Policy Summer Scholar program at the University of Chicago.
More in Politics from The Harvey World Herald
Monique Williams: City Clerk candidate questionnaire
The Office of the City Clerk is one of the more transactional, community-facing offices in the city's government. They're also a major agent of democracy. We asked candidates about that, public meeting accessibility, and more.
David Clay II: City Treasurer candidate questionnaire
The general election is weeks away. We asked city treasurer candidates how they'll make the office—often opaque—more transparent and responsive to residents' concerns about the city's finances. Here's how they answered.
Aisha Pickett: City Treasurer candidate questionnaire
The general election is weeks away. We asked city treasurer candidates how they'll make the office—often opaque—more transparent and responsive to residents' concerns about the city's finances. Here's how they answered.
The 2023 Harvey municipal primary election results
The city's 2nd and 3rd Ward primary results are in with all of the city's precincts reporting. Here's who made the April 4 runoff.
The primary election is today. Here's what you need to know.
Only 2nd and 3rd Ward residents will head to the polls today. If no candidate gets 50% of the vote share, the top two vote-getters will proceed to an April 4 runoff.
Yarif Vhora: 2nd Ward Primary Candidate questionnaire responses
Ahead of the February 28 primary, we asked 2nd Ward candidates about climate change, housing, ethics reform, public safety, infrastructure, youth engagement, and more. Here's how Yarif Vhora responded.
Colby Chapman: 2nd Ward Primary Candidate questionnaire responses
Ahead of the February 28 primary, we asked 2nd Ward candidates about climate change, housing, ethics reform, public safety, infrastructure, youth engagement, and more. Here's how Colby Chapman responded.
The 2023 Harvey municipal election center
Your central location to get your digital voter guides, polling place information, and registration needs ahead of city's primary and general elections—updated daily.
Meeting recap: City Council approves purchase of vacant Ascension-St. Susanna Catholic Church facility
While it wasn't specified what "government purposes" the facility is to be used under the resolution, City Council approved a similar acquisition of a vacant downtown bank last year. The Harvey Police Department now uses the former First Merchants Bank, although it's not accessible to the public.
Meeting recap: With most aldermen a no-show, City Council's first meeting of 2023 is a no-go
Alderman Marshun Tolbert (2nd), Alderman Tracy Key (4th), Alderman Dominique Randle-El (5th), and Alderman Tyrone Rogers (6th) were absent from the meeting, where the Council was to discuss several development-related items.
Public now allowed to attend City Council meetings in-person as election season heats up
Monday's City Council meeting was the first time in over two years the public could attend in-person. The move came as political hopefuls also filed petitions ahead of the November 28 deadline.
Home rule, the most important ballot measure for Harvey voters in 2022
Voters must decide if the city should maintain its own authority. Here's what that means in practice.
Cook County is ran by Democrats. In the south suburbs, one man is trying to change that.
Jason Ross Decker is running for Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th District seat as a Libertarian. He says citizens have had enough with partisan politics. “It’s a breath of fresh air” for those who learn he’s not running as a Republican or Democrat here in Cook County, he said.
#CheckYourJudges before heading to the ballot box
Pick up a free print voter guide to research Cook County judicial candidates before you cast a vote.
Mayoral security detail intervened in attempted gunpoint robbery of elderly man in Chicago
The officer with the mayor's security detail drew their weapon in response to an individual attempting to rob an 86-year-old man at gunpoint.
[BREAKING]: Mayor Chris Clark's security detail exchanges gunfire with attempted robbery in Chicago
News choppers hovered over the scene on North Avenue and Halsted Street, with a notable heavy police presence in Chicago's Lincoln Park area Wednesday afternoon.
Alderman Marshun Tolbert announces 2023 mayoral run
“Our city has some serious challenges: crime, disinvestment, a need for jobs paying a live-able wage as inflation continues to rise,” said the 2nd Ward alderman, who is the first to formally announce a run to unseat Mayor Chris Clark.
Parades and fireworks return for fourth of July weekend, but arrest drama looms
Harvey police arrested Dixmoor treasurer and likely 2023 mayoral challenger Anthony McCaskill last weekend after responding to a report of illegal fireworks.
Former Obama aide Jaylin D. McClinton seeking south suburban 5th District Commissioner seat
The fresh face to south suburban politics previously served as an aide to the Obama administration and fought against state budget cuts to make college more affordable.
Here's where you can pick up a judicial voter guide across the south suburbs
The HWH is distributing 4,000 copies of a nonpartisan judicial voter guide produced by Injustice Watch ahead of the June 28 primary.
Missed a City Council meeting? Head over to our new YouTube Channel
Catch up on the latest news from City Hall no matter where you are.
Clock now ticking to fill vacant third ward seat after Crudup resignation
The mayor’s office now has 60 days to make a nomination to the seat, setting off an appointment process — dead smack in the middle of election season.
'More than a part-time position': Alderman Quinton Crudup (3rd) announces plans to resign
The exit will set off a nomination process for the next third ward alderman as election season gets underway.
The 2023 election season is upon us. What issues matter to you?
With campaign season underway, the Harvey World Herald wants the community to sound off on the issues that matter most to you.
