HR1387 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1387 LRB097 23868 MST 73151 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate our friend and colleague, Illinois State Representative Kent Gaffney, on the occasion of his retirement and thank him for his service to the people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney has been married to his wife, Elizabeth for 15 years after first meeting her while they both worked at the Capitol on legislative issues, and they are now the proud parents of 2 wonderful boys, Adam and Alexander; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney graduated from Williamsville High School prior to attending and graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor of arts degree in political science; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney began his career in public service in 1988, working for the Illinois Senate during college summers and working in the private sector before coming back to public service in 1997 by taking a position on the House Republican Staff; there he worked on major issues and pieces of legislation including the deregulation of the utility industry and the funding and construction of the new Chicago Bears stadium; and

WHEREAS, After years of hard work and dedicated service, he became the Director of Appropriations for the House Republican Caucus in January 2001, and as Director of Appropriations, Representative Gaffney was the "go-to" person for all issues regarding Illinois appropriations; as a leadership staff member, he aided in developing policy positions for the caucus and spent over a decade negotiating the State's budget with 3 Governors and the legislative leaders of the other caucuses, always advocating for fiscally responsible and balanced budgets; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney was appointed to serve as State Representative for the 52nd District on July, 4, 2011, after the untimely death of his long-time friend and colleague Representative Mark Beaubien; and

WHEREAS, As State Representative, Kent Gaffney sponsored numerous pieces of legislation, including PA 97-0565, which helps to relieve local merchants of government regulations regarding caustic substances, and PA 97-0982, which helps relieve the cost on local government when a State's Attorney is absent; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney served as an advocate for many causes, such as the abolishment of legislative scholarships, pension reform, and the victims' bill of rights; and he continued budget policy work and was appointed by the Governor to be the only House Republican member to serve on the Budgeting for Results Commission; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney was very active in the local community, he served as host to several town hall forums, including those in Island Lake, Lake in the Hills, and Crystal Lake, and recognized and congratulated the Prairie Ridge football team for winning the CLASS 6A football championship, the Cary-Grove volleyball team for taking 2nd place at the 4A State Championship, and mourning the death of local leader Lester Macko, former fire chief of the Cary Fire District; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of his clear commitment to public service and his belief in working towards bi-partisan solutions, Representative Gaffney was nominated and selected to be one of 40 members of the 2012 Inaugural Class of the Edgar Fellows Program; and

WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate our friend and colleague, Illinois State Representative Kent Gaffney, on the occasion of his retirement, thank him for his service to the people of the State, and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Kent Gaffney as a symbol of our esteem and respect.