SR1068 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1068 LRB097 23740 MST 72836 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Senator Suzi Schmidt has represented the citizens of Lake County with distinction as State Senator for the 31st District since 2011; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt's priorities have always been those of the people she represents-local government, education, business development and job creation, and lower taxes; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt's public service began in 1985, when she was elected as a township trustee and served in the capacity until she was elected to the Lake County Board; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt was first elected to the Lake County Board and Lake County Forest Preserve Board in 1988, and served with distinction for 22 years; and

WHEREAS In 2000, Senator Schmidt became the first female chair of the Lake County Board, and her peers elected her as chair for 10 consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt has always been a strong supporter of the environment, making sure that the residents of Lake County for generations to come would have the opportunity to enjoy open space, forest preserves, and recreational areas; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt's environmental commitment is evidenced by her diligent efforts on the Land Acquisition Committee from 1988 to 2010; she was instrumental in the purchase and protection of 16,297 acres of land in Lake County, including the acquisition of 34 entirely new Forest Preserves such as Bonner Farm, Hastings Lake, Duck Fann, Sun Lake, and Bluebird Meadow, as well as additions to 54 existing preserves and many parcels of land acquired to develop the Des Plaines and Millennium regional trails; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt has been dedicated to the preservation of the history of Lake County's agricultural roots as evidenced by her support of agricultural leasing, as well as her service on the Bonner Farm Advisory Committee from 2000 to 2004, which resulted in the opening of the Bonner Heritage Farm; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt demonstrated her commitment to wetland protection and research through her service on the Wetlands Research Board from 1988 to 2008; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt previously served as a director of the Illinois Lakes Management Association from 1986 to 1988; and

WHEREAS, Because of Senator Schmidt's strong environmental commitment to the State of Illinois, she was presented with the Environmental Legislator of the Year Award in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt influenced countless decisions that improved Lake County and the quality of life for its residents; she was known for her ability to build consensus on the county board; she fostered cooperation with all members of both sides of the aisle and worked on behalf of all residents; and

WHEREAS Senator Schmidt brought those same team-building traits with her to the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt's commitment to effective local government continued in Springfield as she served as Republican spokesperson of the Senate Local Government Committee, helping to guide public policy that impacts all Illinois communities and their citizens; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt recognized the need to balance the important work done by local governments with the public right to know, cosponsoring a new law that requires a public body to take reasonable steps to ensure that a copy of any meeting notice and agenda are continuously available for public review during the entire 48-hour period preceding the meeting; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt also served as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, the Senate Appropriations II Committee, the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt has always been a champion for fiscal responsibility and prudent conservative budget principles, often heard to say: "We don't spend money we don't have."; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt was born in Chicago in 1951, attended grade school in Summit, and graduated from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt earned a bachelor's degree in Art Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1974; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt taught for 12 years at Lotus Elementary, Grass Lake Elementary, and Gavin School District; and

WHEREAS, A resident of Lake Villa Township for over 30 years, Senator Schmidt has long been active in her community, serving as the president of Metro Counties, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Lake County University Center, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Lake County Municipal League; she is also a member of the Lindenhurst/Lake Villa Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Lake Villa Library, and Lake Villa Historical Society; and

WHEREAS, Senator Schmidt has represented her constituents in the Senate with dedication, energy, and enthusiasm, earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle; and

WHEREAS, Legislators and staff alike know and appreciate Senator Schmidt for her engaging personality, generosity, kindness, and a smile that lights up the Senate Chambers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Senator Suzi Schmidt on her retirement from the Illinois Senate after 2 years of honorable and dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Suzi Schmidt with our friendship, our gratitude for her hard work, and our best wishes for her future endeavors.