Longtime Government Staffer Appointed To Highland Park City Council

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Mayor Nancy Rotering appointed a Highland Park native with federal, state and local government experience to fill a vacant seat on the City Council.

Councilmember Barisa Meckler Bruckman was sworn in Monday to serve through next April's municipal elections.

Bruckman succeeds former Councilmember Jeff Hoobler, a brewery operator whose controversial resignation followed a City Council stalemate over proposed changes to an ordinance that prohibited councilmembers from holding liquor licenses.

Rotering said she reviewed 19 applicants to fill the vacancy left by Hoobler's resignation and interviewed two of them with the full council, who gave unanimous consent to the mayor's pick.

"I'm excited to work with you and as I said earlier to give up the title of youngest councilmember," said Kim Stone, 57.

Bruckman, 41, worked for the administrations of Rod Blagojevich, as both a congressman and a governor, Barack Obama, as both a U.S. senator, president and candidate, and former Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers before Rotering appointed her to the Highland Park Plan and Design Commission in 2021.

She is a Highland Park High School alum with a graduate degree from Northwestern University, a mother of two young boys in local schools and a fan of "Hamilton," closing her first remarks as a councilmember with a reference to the musical — "I have the honor to be your obedient servant, B. Bruckman."

Bruckman said she felt "immense pride and gratitude" to join the City Council and was ready to "hit the ground running" in her new role.

"As we embark on this journey together, I am inspired by the spirit of positive progress that defines our community," she said. "Together, let us embrace the opportunities ahead, working collaboratively to enhance the quality of life for all those who call Highland Park home."

Councilmember Andres Tapia said the learning curve for City Council newcomers is quite steep. Tapia, who was one of three councilmembers who supported changing the city code to allow Hoobler to keep his liquor license and role on the council as the same time, said he looked forward to benefiting from Bruckman's experience in human resources and government.

"Given the circumstances that led to Jeff Hoobler having to step down, which led to this opening," Tapia said, "I want to reiterate that the position Jeff held, as elected by the majority of Highland Park voters, was a declaration by voters that economic development and environmental sustainability needed to be one of the city's priorities, along with what the city already has been doing well regarding infrastructure, public safety and financial stability."

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Bruckman said she was being sworn in on what would have been the 69th birthday of her late father, Bruce Meckler.

"I know how proud he was of me, and he would be today," she said.

Though Meckler's law firm, which represented Blagojevich in a state attorney general investigation of a jobs for campaign cash scheme, gave the felonious governor more than $98,000, he denied that it led to his daughter getting an internship with a state agency because she previously had volunteered with Blagojevich's congressional office, the Associated Press reported.

“She actually worked for him before I ever gave anything to the man,” Meckler said back in 2006.

Outside of the public sector for the first time in her career, Bruckman has spent the last two years working for the University of Chicago, according to an online resume.

“Barisa’s background in public policy and longstanding record of public engagement, including nearly three years’ service on the City’s Plan and Design Commission and professional experience working for local, state, and federal government entities, will be a tremendous asset to our Council,” Rotering said in a statement.

“As a graduate of Highland Park High School who returned to this community to raise a beautiful family, Barisa also understands the priorities and challenges facing many Highland Park residents, particularly the young families who have chosen to make their home here.”