Ward Room Contributor: Brooke Anderson

Brooke Anderson is a Chicago-based communicator, strategist and Democratic consultant. From 2012 to January 2015, she served as Governor Pat Quinn's communications director, advising the Governor, wrangling the press and managing the state's response to emergencies from tornadoes to the pension crisis. Prior to that, she served as the Governor’s Press Secretary.

She worked alongside the Governor during some of Illinois' toughest challenges and helped achieve historic victories, including marriage equality and long-sought fiscal reforms to the state's pension systems, Medicaid program and budget.

Anderson reorganized the state's communications operation to make it more efficient and led media efforts to promote Illinois abroad, including the Governor's trip to Belgium in advance of NATO. From local press conferences to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Anderson guided the Governor's message.

She departed state government in the summer of 2014 to run the communications shop for Governor Quinn's re-election campaign in one of the nation's most competitive races.

Anderson cut her teeth in city politics when she served as Press Secretary for Gery Chico's 2010 mayoral bid against Rahm Emanuel and lived to tell about it.

Prior to that, she worked as a communications consultant at local public affairs powerhouse Serafin & Associates, Inc. She secured her Master's in Journalism from DePaul University in 2009.

She grew up in Deerfield Beach, Florida playing basketball with her three brothers, sprinting 800-meter races and braving hurricanes. She earned her undergraduate degree at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, where she played Division 1 basketball on full scholarship.

Whether maneuvering Springfield's political minefields, laboring away on multiple State of the State addresses, or putting out daily fires, Anderson is known as a fierce advocate, savvy strategist and 24/7 workaholic. She's been recognized in Today's Chicago Woman Magazine's 100 Women to Watch and DePaul University's Alumni Stars Under 40. In her spare time, Anderson studies French and aspires to be fluent - one day.

She lives in Chicago and tries not to miss a thing.

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