Brendan Reilly

Brendan Reilly serves as Alderman of Chicago’s 42nd ward. 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. Following this, he served as Communications Director for the Illinois House Democrats, where he played a key role in efforts to strengthen education, improve public health, expand economic opportunity, ensure equal rights, and protect the 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. 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.