Evanston Deputy Attorney Named Director Of Real Estate At IDFPR

EVANSTON, IL — Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Evanston Deputy Attorney Mario Treto, Jr. to become director of real estate at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Tuesday, the governor's office announced. Pending Illinois Senate confirmation, Treto will serve under Deborah Hagan, currently chief of the consumer protection division of the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

"I am humbled and honored to be appointed by Governor Pritzker to join his administration," Treto said. "I am excited to expand my public service to the great state of Illinois and it has been my pleasure to serve the City of Evanston for the past five years."

The real estate division of IDFPR regulates real estate brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, management of community associations and auctioneers, according to the agency.

Treto currently provides legal counsel to Evanston's elected officials, staff and departments with compliance, transactional and corporate matters, according to the governor's office.

In July 2018, Treto was promoted from assistant city attorney to succeed Michelle Masoncup when she was appointed as the top city attorney to replace Grant Farrar after his resignation.

Treto previously worked at the Chicago-based law firm of Tristan & Cervantes, according to an online resume. The governor's office said Treto focused his previous practice on commercial and residential real estate, corporate law and business transactions.

As of last June, Treto has authored more than 500 Evanston ordinances and resolutions, according to the city.

Treto has also been named a "Top Lawyer Under 50" by both the Hispanic National Bar Association and the National LGBT Bar. The publication Negocios Now rated him a "Top Latino Leader Under 40." Last year, Treto was named one of 40 fellows in the 2019 class of Leadership Greater Chicago, according to the city.

Treto is also board chair of Howard Brown Health, a Chicagoland health center with 10 clinics and a youth center serving 35,000 patients, according to the governor's office. The city said he has also served as the vice-president of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law Latino Alumni Advisory Board and on boards for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago and LINK Unlimited.

The other two director positions at the state regulatory agency will remain the same pending state Senate confirmation, according to Pritzker. Francisco Menchaca will stay on as director of financial instutiutions, a job he has held since his appointment by former Gov. Pat Quinn in July 2013. Jessica Baer, appointed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner in September 2016, will continue to serve as IDFPR director of professional regulation.