SR0500 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0500 LRB094 15040 RAS 50169 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Members of the Illinois Senate will miss their colleague, Senator Dave Sullivan; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan has served his constituents in the northwest suburbs faithfully since he was appointed in 1998; he won elections in 2000 and 2002; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan was the architect and negotiator of the historic Telecommunications Article rewrite of 2001 and as a result of the changes in law, Illinois consumers have saved more than $500 million; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan has been a strong advocate for children's health-care issues; he was the lead sponsor of the law requiring additional instruction about the dangers of steroid abuse for student athletes enrolled in Illinois schools; and

WHEREAS, Throughout Senator Sullivan's legislative career, he has been a strong supporter of Illinois veterans; he was the chief sponsor of comprehensive legislation providing deployed armed services members and their families with some additional common-sense financial protections in recognition of their service to Illinois and to the country as a whole; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, Senator Sullivan has made several noteworthy contributions, including sponsoring a law allowing Maryville Academy kids to participate in summer education programs; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan led the charge to commission a study on the impact that expansion at O'Hare International Airport would have on communities around the airport; based on the information contained in that study, he was able to successfully negotiate certain financial considerations for the school districts that would be affected by expansion at O'Hare; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan was one of the first freshman lawmakers to haze another freshman lawmaker; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan is the founding member of the infamous "Sullivan Caucus", which seeks to promote the best of Irish culture - eating and drinking; he is the entire Republican delegation on the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago Board of Directors; even Martha Stewart cannot rival Dave Sullivan in the fine art of incorporating green ties into every shirt and sport coat combination in the Senator's wardrobe; and

WHEREAS, A long, long time ago, Senator Sullivan was named to Crain's Chicago Business' "Forty Under Forty" list; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan is a member of the Lattof YMCA Board of Directors, the Park Ridge Kiwanis, the Children's Advocacy Center of Northwest Cook County Board of Directors, the Center of Concern Advisory Board, Avenues of Independence Board of Directors, Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago Board of Directors, Amate House Board of Directors, the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Board, the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Communication, Technology, and Interstate Commerce Committee, the NCSL Energy and Electric Utilities Committee, and the Maine Township Regular Republican Organization; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan has received awards and recognition from many different organizations, including Action for Children, the Illinois Farm Bureau, Mount Prospect Park District, the Illinois Coalition for Competitive Telecommunications, the Association of Chiefs of Police, AARP, the Northwest Special Recreation Association, Lutheran General Hospital, VISIONS Network, Jewish Family and Community Services, SIDS Alliance of Illinois, Inc., Community Health Charities of Illinois, the National Federation of Independent Business, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Plumbing Contractors Association of Chicago and Cook County, the Park Ridge Jaycees, the Illinois Hospital and Health System Association, and Metropolitan Family Services; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan is a dedicated husband and father to his lovely wife, Dru, and four wonderful children, Brendan, Shannon, Michael, and Erin; his commitment and love for his family has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he is proud to see his two oldest children enrolled in classes at his alma mater and even more proud to see that they are not following too closely in his footsteps; and

WHEREAS, Being the youngest of eight children, Senator Sullivan learned not only patience, but also the fine art of compromise; he has always made it a point to be kind and courteous to the people around him and he has always appreciated the work people do for him; and

WHEREAS, Senator Sullivan is a committed Catholic; he is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Church in Park Ridge; and

WHEREAS, Senator Dave Sullivan is respected by his colleagues from both political parties for his honesty, integrity, and good-natured sense of humor; he will be remembered as a Senator who took his responsibility as an advocate for his district seriously; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that that we recognize Dave Sullivan for his many accomplishments as he leaves the Illinois Senate and that we wish him well in all future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dave Sullivan to honor him for his years of service to the citizens of Illinois.