He resigned his commission in 1992 and subsequently joined the administration of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, where he served in many senior management positions and ultimately as budget director from 1996 to 2005.
Among his many accomplishments, Harris negotiated and launched the multi-billion-dollar O'Hare International Airport modernization program and led the city's successful transaction to sell the Chicago Skyway for $1.8 billion to the private capital joint venture team of Cintra/Macquarie.
[2] On December 9, 2008, Harris and his boss Governor Rod Blagojevich were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as solicitation of bribery.
In imposing the unusually lenient sentence, Judge Zagel noted that the former Governor had worn down his staff and demonstrated signs of "mental instability.
[9] The judge also acknowledged an unusual number of character reference letters in support of Harris that had been received from prominent city and state political and business figures.