Today, City Manager Joan Walls announced that she has appointed Christopher Walton to serve as the City of Champaign’s next Deputy City Manager. Mr. Walton has more than ten years of municipal government experience and will assume this new leadership role on June 2, 2025.
Mr. Walton currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Village of Savoy, where he provides administrative leadership and services for the Village, including budget administration, securing state and federal funding, leading economic development initiatives, human resources compliance, and proactively managing community and intergovernmental relations. Mr. Walton previously served as the City of Champaign’s Assistant to the City Manager from 2018-2020. Earlier in his career, Mr. Walton served as a Policy Research and Grants Coordinator for the County of DuPage, Illinois, and as a Management Analyst for the Village of Lake Villa, Illinois.
City Manager Joan Walls said, “Christopher’s well-rounded experience in municipal government, his passion for the Champaign community, and his creativity and innovation made him the clear choice to serve as Champaign’s next Deputy City Manager. Throughout his career in public service, Christopher has continued to excel by taking on increasing levels of responsibility and exercising his strong leadership skills. Christopher is a true servant leader and I’m excited to have him join my executive management team where I know he’ll be a great asset to our community and the City organization.”
Christopher Walton said, “It is an honor and a privilege to serve in local government, and I am humbled by the City Manager’s confidence in me to continue that service with the City of Champaign. The City is blessed with a professional and dedicated staff who loyally serve their residents. I look forward to joining with them in continuing to provide legal, ethical, and fiscally responsible government services to Champaign’s residents and community stakeholders.”
Mr. Walton holds degrees from National Louis University, including a Master of Arts in Policy and Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Management. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, a Board Member of the Illinois City/ County Management Association, and the President of the Downstate Illinois City/County Management Association.