Chicago’s Department of Planning & Development (DPD) has appointed Patrick Murphey, the city’s current Zoning Administrator, as its acting commissioner. This news was reported by Crain’s. Murphey has held various roles across four administrations and will take over from outgoing DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox who announced his resignation last month.

As head of the DPD, Murphey will manage a staff of 172 people and continue to lead the zoning bureau while Mayor Brandon Johnson considers appointing a permanent commissioner for this position.
Murphey began with DPD in 2000 as an intern before earning his master’s degree in urban planning from University of Illinois Chicago in 2002. He then joined former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration in 2007 as an economic development coordinator before being named zoning administrator back 2018