HR1045 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1045 LRB102 30111 MST 42339 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate our colleague, Representative Jim Durkin, for his distinguished service to the people of the State of Illinois during his nearly decade-long time as House Republican Leader; and

WHEREAS, With a focus on protecting and strengthening families and communities, Leader Durkin has spent his entire career working for the citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin was born into a large Chicago family of eight boys; he was raised in the western suburb of Westchester, and he and all seven of his brothers graduated from Fenwick High School; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin attended Illinois State University, earning a degree in Criminal Justice, and completed his formal education by receiving his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School; and

WHEREAS, Following his graduation from law school, Leader Durkin served as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General and continued his public service as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney; while working as an Assistant State's Attorney, he served in the felony trial and narcotics bureau; he currently practices law in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In January 1995, Leader Durkin became an Illinois State Representative in the 44th District; in 2002, he was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate; in 2006, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the 82nd House District; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin served as the ranking Republican on the Illinois House of Representatives Special Investigation Committee for the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich in 2008 and served as the House Manager for the removal of a sitting member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 2012; and

WHEREAS, The offices of two members of the Illinois House of Representatives, the Speaker of the Illinois House and the Minority Leader of the Illinois House, are specifically enumerated in Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2013, Leader Durkin was unanimously selected by his Republican colleagues to fill the vacancy of House Republican Leader and was officially inaugurated by the full House of Representatives on October 22, 2013; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, Leader Durkin served with three different Illinois Governors of both political parties; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin worked to ensure the State provides a quality education for children across Illinois by creating the Invest in Kids Tuition Tax Credit Program and negotiating the State's education funding formula to ensure equity for all school districts across the state; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin worked to protect families from polluters by shutting down a toxic sterilization plant in his district and creating the strictest standards for ethylene oxide in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin continued to fight for lowering property taxes, fixing the State's pension systems and passing ethics reform to hold elected officials accountable; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin's dedication to the people of Illinois has earned him several honors, such as Legislator of the Year, Friend of Agriculture, Outstanding Legislator of the Year, the Family Legacy Award, and several more over the years; and

WHEREAS, In 2000 and 2008, Leader Durkin was State Chairman for U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaigns and served as Chairman for the Illinois Delegation at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin currently serves on the Misericordia Board of Advisors, the Giant Steps of Illinois Board of Directors, and the JDRF Illinois Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Leader Durkin currently resides in Western Springs with his wife, Celeste, and his family; and

WHEREAS, On November 9, 2022, Leader Durkin informed his colleagues that he would not stand for election as House Republican Leader in the approaching term of the 103rd Illinois General Assembly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and thank the Honorable Jim Durkin for his distinguished service to the people of Illinois as the House Republican Leader during the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, and 102nd General Assemblies and wish him the very best as he moves on to new challenges in his life and the lives of his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Leader Durkin and his family as an expression of our esteem and respect.