Supervisor Joe Virusso

Joe Virusso has been a longtime fixture in the Town of Cicero. Born and raised in Cicero, his first job was for the Public Works Department in 1949. Since then, he has worked for the Water and Sewer Department where he climbed the ladder to Superintendent of Water before he was elected Town Supervisor. As a kid, Virusso would play hockey on the frozen ponds throughout Cicero in the winter time before strapping on roller skates to play during the rest of the year. Now, he enjoys getting together with his family – he has three daughters and is a grandfather to seven children – on Sundays.

Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias

Maria Punzo-Arias is the first Hispanic to hold the office of Town Clerk in Cicero. While she was born in Mexico City, Arias moved to Cicero as a child, graduating from Morton East High School and staying here for more than 34 years. She has been working for the Town since 1995 when she was hired on to clerk for the Water Department. Since 2003, Arias has served on the Town Board, first as a Trustee and now as Town Clerk. During her off time, she enjoys spending time with her her husband Jose Arias, Sr., three children and two grandchildren — and enjoying Polish food.

Collector Fran Reitz

Fran Reitz is a lifelong resident of Cicero. She has been working for the Town of Cicero since 1984, when she took on a summer internship as a clerk for the Building Department. Since then, she has moved throughout the Town’s offices before becoming the Town Collector, a position she has held for more than six years. Her favorite childhood memories of Cicero involve walking to Manor Pool and swimming there with her friends from Our Lady of Charity. Today, she spends her time with her three children and enjoys fishing when she can.

Assessor Emilio “Emo” Cundari

Emo Cundari has been an integral part of the New Cicero. A graduate of St. Rita High School, as well as holding degrees from DePaul University and the University of Illinois, Cundari has been working for the Town since his time as the Director of Community Development in 2005. Since then, he has been working hard to keep the Town’s residents happy and safe. He has organized the Town’s annual “Keep Cicero CLEAN” campaign, managed the Town’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, worked to keep the Town’s property tax rates static, and has been leading the fight against the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board to reduce the flooding and odor problems stemming from their nearby plant. In his off time, Cundari enjoys spending time with his family – his wife Melissa and his two children – and watching White Sox baseball.

Trustees

Larry Banks

Larry Banks may not be from Illinois – he was born in a small town called Red Wing, Minnesota – but for the more than 35 years he has called Cicero his home. Banks started working in public services at the Clyde Park District, where he worked as Executive Director until 2005. He then joined the Town of Cicero as a business license inspector before his appointment to the Town Board as Town Trustee in 2011. As a child, Banks was part of a large family that raised horses, a passion that continues today.  Banks is the father of five grown children – three sons and two daughters – and married to his wife Susan, who is the Senior Activities Director for the Town, for more than 36 years.

Victor Garcia

Victor Garcia is a Sponsor Coordinator with the Clyde Park District, working there since 2007. He began his public service in 2005 with the election of Town President Larry Dominick, working as coordinator of Special Projects in the President’s office, and also as an elected member of the Clyde Park District Board of Commissioners. Garcia also served as a member of the Community Development Committee and the Town of Cicero Zoning Board. Previously before entering government service he worked in the manufacturing industry where he also served as a union chief steward.

He also serves as a board member with the Nazarene Brotherhood and has volunteered as a coach for local basketball, baseball and soccer youth leagues. Victor is married to Maria, and they have three children, Victor, Edwin and Evelyn. The Garcia’s have lived in the Town Cicero more than 20 years. The Garcia family is actively involved in the Catholic Church through several churches in the Town of Cicero.

Dennis Raleigh

Dennis Raleigh is a lifelong resident of Cicero, here more than 64 years. Raleigh attended Mary Queen of Heaven Grade School and graduated from St. Mel High School and Morton College in the Town of Cicero.

He worked for Western Electric from 1965 until 1974 when he became a member of the Town of Cicero Fire Department. Raleigh served as a firefighter through 1998.

Raleigh’s public service dedication is reflected in his many positions that also include election to the Board of Hawthorne Park District in 1989. He served there through 1998 when he was appointed to a seat on the Town of Cicero Board of Trustees where he continues to serve. He was re-elected to the position four times in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. He works as the executive director of the Hawthorne Park District.

Dennis is the father of Denise and Jennie and grandfather to Justin, Kaitlyn, Natasa, and Peter.

Lorraine Walsh 

Lorraine Walsh has been a member of the Board of Trustees in Cicero since 1997. Since then, she has seen a wealth of change in the Town, and none more rapidly and positively than in the past several years since Larry Dominick has been President. She has been married to Bernie Walsh for more than 60 years, and the mother of two children. During her time away from work, Walsh enjoys connecting with her Polish heritage through great food, large family gatherings after church at St. Mary of Czestochowa, and her family.