OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
June 28, 2017
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Austin, Burke, Laurino, O'Connor and Solis, a congratulatory resolution regarding our dear friend and colleague Alex Holt on the bittersweet occasion of her departure from City service.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Alexandra Holt has announced that she will step down as Budget Director of the City of Chicago to pursue other professional endeavors; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Carrie M. Austin, Alderman Edward M. Burke, Alderman Margaret Laurino and Alderman Patrick O'Connor; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Holt was raised in Oklahoma and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin; and
WHEREAS, After earning her Master's Degree in Public Policy at the University of Chicago, Ms. Holt began her career at the City of Chicago, where she served for ten years as Deputy Commissioner ofthe Department of Environment; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Ms. Holt was named Managing Deputy Budget Director, and served two years in this position; and
WHEREAS, Intrigued by the relationship between public policy and law, in 2007 Ms. Holt earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Following her graduation from law school, Ms. Holt joined the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, where she specialized in real estate law, public law, and infrastructure transactions; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2011, at the request of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ms. Holt was appointed as the City's Budget Director. She has served with distinction in that position since that time; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Holt continues to be a key member of the Mayor's Economic, Budgetary and Business Development Council; and
WHEREAS, Using her pen as deftly as Jedi knights wield their light sabers, Ms. Holt has crafted six budgets, which have set the City of Chicago on a course toward financial stability; and
WHEREAS, Guided by Yoda's words, "Do. Or Do Not. There is no Try", Ms. Holt has worked diligently during her tenure as Budget Director to reduce the City's budget deficit and to put the City's pension funds on stable financial footing; and
WHEREAS, Although the path to resolving the City's financial difficulties has not been an easy one to follow, Ms. Holt has used her intelligence and academic training, and her great wit and charm, to chart the City's course on this journey; and
WHEREAS, During her free time, Ms. Holt practices yoga for stress relief, and enjoys sewing and quilting. She is also known to have a particular fondness for cute little bunnies and Star Wars movies; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Holt and her husband Thorn Serafine look forward to travelling, Friday pizza nights and spending lazy days during the summer months on their boat free of the need to prepare for yet another Budget season; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That We, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-eighth day of June, 2017, do hereby express our .sincere gratitude to Alexandra Holt for her able service as Chicago's Budget Director, and extend to her our best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Alexandra Holt with the hope that "The Force will always be with her, Always."