Elected: 2007

Brendan Reilly began his career in Illinois politics in 1995 as a staffer for former state House Speaker Michael Madigan. He then served as communications director for the Illinois Democratic party, before taking a brief hiatus from public service in 2001. In the interim he worked as a vice president at AT&T prior to making his bid for the 42^nd Ward seat, held by Ald. Burton Natarus for over 30 years. Reilly defeated Natarus with 55 percent of the vote, as Natarus’s constituents grew tired of his laser focus on development.

Reilly ruffled some feathers with the mayor’s office during his first term when he came out in opposition of former Mayor Richard Daley and the plan to relocate the Chicago Children’s Museum to Grant Park. Reilly flexed his political muscle on the Children’s Memorial Hospital development plan and was able to work out an agreement to add safety studies on the facility’s proposed heliport, a demand from Streeterville residents.

Since he was elected 2007, Reilly’s power in the Chicago City Council has only grown, as he was chosen to serve as the vice mayor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the president pro-tempore of the council under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. An illustrious fundraiser, Reilly has aided in the elections of dozens of state and county lawmakers, including former state Rep. John Fritchey and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2).

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