Brendan Reilly is the son of Dr. Brendan Reilly, Former-Chief of Medicine at Cook County Hospital, and Janice Reilly, a retired publishing executive and a past President of the Women’s Board of the Illinois Cancer Society.
Alderman Reilly’s career in public service began shortly after he graduated from Hobart College in 1994, when he joined the Illinois House of Representatives’ staff in Springfield. Reilly helped shape efforts by state government to protect our air and water and preserve our parks and open spaces, working with lawmakers, environmentalists and the Illinois EPA and Department of Natural Resources.
Reilly also helped develop pioneer programs to reform government by making it more transparent and honest. Reilly initiated new constituent services programs that worked one-on-one with individual taxpayers who needed help accessing government programs and services. He also bridged the gap between state government and suburban leaders in government, business, and non-profit agencies to find common sense solutions to community-wide concerns.
Reilly’s hard work and innovation earned a promotion to a top-level post as Communications Director for the Illinois House Democrats. Although only 26 years-old, Reilly played a key role in efforts to strengthen education, improve public health, expand economic opportunity, ensure equal rights, and protect our right to privacy.Reilly left the Illinois House to serve as Press Secretary and Communications Director for Paul Vallas in his campaign for Governor in 2002. In that capacity, Reilly helped refine and articulate a vision of government reform in the tradition of the great Senator Paul Simon. The Vallas campaign renewed Reilly’s belief that public service can, and should, be a noble calling and that good government is worth fighting for.
In 2002, following the Vallas campaign, Reilly was recruited by AT&T to serve as Midwest Vice President of Public Affairs. At age 30, Reilly became AT&T’s youngest regional vice-president in history. In this role, he managed a multi-million dollar budget and staff for a five state region, directed all public relations for AT&T regarding public policy, consumer services and business services, and worked closely with Illinois lawmakers and consumer advocates to make Illinois telecommunications market more competitive, bringing consumers and businesses more choices, lower prices and better service.Reilly has lived in downtown Chicago since 1997 and now lives in the River North neighborhood with his wife, Kristin, and their dogs Buster and Max, who are both Yorkshire Terriers.