Ruth Cruz

Cruz was born in Mexico and immigrated to Chicago with her family when she was seven years old.^[1] She attended Carl Schurz High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in management at Robert Morris University.^[2][1] She later worked as director of admissions at Robert Morris and an assistant admissions director at Roosevelt University.^[1][3] She was a volunteer at a restorative justice court in Avondale and was an elected member of a local school council in Portage Park.^[3]

She ran for alderperson of the 30th ward in the 2023 election, where incumbent Ariel Reboyras had announced his retirement. She identified as a progressive and supported policies such as "community zoning, participatory budgeting and more investment in youth and violence prevention programs that emphasize mental health for residents, kids and law enforcement."^[4][5] She won 27% of the vote in the first round election on February 28, and advanced to a runoff against Jessica Gutiérrez.^[5][6] She won the runoff election on April 5 with 51.5% of the vote.^[4]

Cruz has two children.^[1]