HR0027 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0027 LRB102 10555 ECR 15884 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Chuck Nelson on the occasion of his retirement as the Deputy Mayor for the City of Aurora; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson has faithfully served the citizens of Aurora in a variety of positions, always seeking new ways to improve the quality of life for the 200,000 residents of the second-largest city in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson's ability to genuinely connect with others, listen with purpose and compassion, and seek problem-solving solutions has served him and the city well in every position that he has held and with every community board or organization that he has served; his uncanny ability to recall details and remember faces and names is unmatched and appreciated by staff and constituents alike; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson is a lifelong Auroran, a proud East Aurora High School Tomcat graduate (Class of 1976), and an avid White Sox and Bears fan; he attended Harper College and Waubonsee Community College while working for the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson began a distinguished career in public service in 1993 when he was first elected as Fourth Ward Alderman; he was always responsive to his constituents and cared about the entire city; he served three terms as alderman, which concluded in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson accepted a position as Assistant Chief of Staff for Mayor Tom Weisner in 2006; he held that position until 2015 when he became the Director of Neighborhood Standards for the city; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, newly-elected Mayor Richard Irvin asked Chuck Nelson to serve as the City of Aurora's first ever Deputy Mayor, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in December 2020; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson was honored by the Aurora City Council at their committee of the whole meeting on December 15, 2020 for his dedication, class, and excellence; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson was awarded the Aurora University George Peters Award in 2005, one of many awards and recognitions he has received over the years; the Peters Award is presented to individuals who strengthen the bond between the university and its hometown and who understand that all of us have an obligation to serve the greater good; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson also received the Marie Wilkinson Spirit Award for his service to the community; he has served with numerous organizations over the years, including the Presence Mercy Medical Foundation, Family Counseling Service, and Saint Peter Church, where he is still an active member; he also served as the city liaison for the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council after it was re-instated in 2012; he has worked tirelessly to support veterans in the Aurora community; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Nelson and his wife Karen have been married for more than 40 years; they have two daughters, Katie (Aaron) and Megan (Joel), and five grandchildren, Olivia, Lucy, Henry, George, and Louis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Aurora Deputy Mayor Chuck Nelson on his retirement, and we thank him for his service and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chuck Nelson as a symbol of our respect and esteem.