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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING PATRICK M. BLANCHARD FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Patrick M. Blanchard has enjoyed a long and highly successful career as an attorney serving the public, and particularly Cook County, in multiple ways; and
WHEREAS, Patrick M. Blanchard was appointed Cook County’s first Independent Inspector General in October 2008, after a nation-wide search; and
WHEREAS, prior to his confirmation as Inspector General, Mr. Blanchard served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney from March 1993 to October 2008. During his tenure, Mr. Blanchard was assigned Division Chief of the Special Litigation Division and held several other supervisory positions within the Civil Actions Bureau of the office. There his practice included Employment Law, Civil Rights, Complex Litigation and Federal Litigation. His practice encompassed all aspects of trial and appellate litigation in both the State and Federal Court system and included numerous high-profile matters. In all of these positions. he provided expert legal assistance to the members of the Cook County Board; and
WHEREAS, for the past fourteen years, Mr. Blanchard has overseen Cook County’s Office of Independent Inspector General which was established to detect, deter, and prevent public corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination, and misconduct in the operation of Cook County government and the offices of the separately elected Cook County officials; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Mr. Blanchard, the Office of the Independent Inspector General expanded its jurisdiction pursuant to intergovernmental cooperation agreements to include the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blanchard is a Certified Inspector General of the National Association of Inspectors General. Mr. Blanchard has previously served as the President of the Association of Inspectors General, Illinois Chapter, and in January 2015, Mr. Blanchard began serving on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Inspectors General; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blanchard received his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School in 1990 and B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago. From 1990 to March 1993, Mr. Blanchard practiced law as an associate attorney with the Chicago firm of Clausen Miller Gorman Caffrey & Witous, P.C. concentrating in municipal law and subrogation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blanchard has served as a Panel Chair of the Hearing Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court. Mr. Blanchard also served as a Member of the Hearing Board from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Blanchard also served as an Adjunct Professor on the faculty of the Illinois Institute of Technology in its Graduate Program in Public Administration teaching Public Administration Law from 2006-2013; and
WHEREAS, despite his obvious dedication and commitment to his career, Mr. Blanchard is not all work. Mr. Blanchard is an avid outdoorsman, he enjoys watching his sons play basketball and golf, and is a dedicated husband; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Blanchard has been a mentor to many and is well respected for his integrity and honesty; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors Patrick Blanchard for his years of service and expresses its sincere appreciation for the work he has done for the residents of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Mr. Patrick Blanchard.
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