About Brendan Reilly
Since his election in 2007, Alderman Reilly has been fighting for greater fiscal accountability by identifying government waste and opposing tax increases; working to bring more transparency to city government; and ensuring downtown residents have a voice in major development decisions.
Brendan Reilly believes Chicago taxpayers deserve a smaller, more efficient city government that uses technology and innovation to help streamline slow and costly processes while significantly reducing the number of middle-management bureaucrats.
A fiscal hawk, Alderman Reilly has consistently voted against tax and fee increases; opposed irresponsible raids on long-term reserve funds like the Parking Meter Lease proceeds; has worked to roll-back Chicago’s head-tax that punishes businesses for hiring more employees; and continues to advocate aggressively for the total repeal of the Cook County Sales Tax increase. Reilly has forcefully argued for implementing a series of measures that would cut hundreds of millions from the City Budget without disrupting public safety and frontline city services.
Shortly after his election, Alderman Reilly opened the first-ever, full-time neighborhood constituent service office to assist downtown residents and businesses - providing regular office hours during the week as well as weekend hours - processing roughly 2,000 unique residential requests and nearly 1,800 business requests each month.
In an effort to remain accessible and responsive to his constituents, Alderman Reilly makes presentations before downtown condominium associations nearly every night, Monday through Thursday - providing updates and fielding questions from building residents. Over the past four years, Reilly has met with hundreds of homeowners associations - the vast majority of those in the 42nd Ward - visiting many buildings for a second or third time.
Brendan Reilly and his wife Kristin married in April, 2010 and live near the Loop with their Yorkshire Terriers, Buster and Max. Brendan is one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 under 40” leaders and member of the Citizens Utility Board, City Club of Chicago, Union League Club of Chicago and past member of the USO/Illinois Board of Directors.
Reilly earned his bachelor’s degree from Hobart College in 1994 is an avid Cubs and Blackhawks fan who enjoys reading, loves hockey, misses sailing and tries to travel with his wife Kristin on those rare occasions when his schedule allows.
