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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DELIO CALZOLARI TO THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Mr. Delio Calzolari served the Forest Preserves of Cook County as the Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs from July 2017 through December 2024, being an integral part of the leadership team for over seven years; and
WHEREAS, Delio’s career began in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and Gunner Officer on the Spruance Class Destroyer USS O’BRIEN. During his time in the Navy, Delio earned an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in the Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch while forward deployed from Yokosuka, Japan; and
WHEREAS, after his time on active duty, he embarked on a management career with Caterpillar, Inc. providing logistics services to companies including Land Rover and Mazda in the United Kingdom and Canada, and was in the Navy Reserves as the Officer-in-Charge of an Area Search Detachment within Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit Seven; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 and through 2008, Delio worked in several states on the successful Obama for America campaign, spending most of his time in the critical state of North Carolina for then-Senator Barack Obama, followed by a return to Caterpillar in McAllen, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Delio returned to Illinois in 2011 to become a Senior Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Shiela Simon and later joined the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University as the Associate Director, working with students and helping foster a passion for civic engagement in the next generation; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure at the Forest Preserves Delio fostered a culture of collaboration, keeping the General Superintendent, President’s Office, and Board of Commissioners updated and informed on impending government relations of the Forest Preserves; and
WHEREAS, Delio shepherded hundreds of Board Agenda Items through the Board approval process, resolved hundreds of constituent and intergovernmental affairs issues, negotiated several land use agreements, streamlined the Forest Preserves internal Board Agenda Item proposal development, and worked on Land Use Code Reform to better protect public open space; and
WHEREAS, Delio was active in the internal decision making process for the Forest Preserves by leading the TIF Committee and participating as a member of the Land Use Committee, Policy Committee, Land Acquisition Committee; and Delio played a major role in guiding eight budgets through the budget cycle, communicating Madam President and the General Superintendent’s vision for the Forest Preserves to Commissioners, their staffs, and other stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Delio’s work in Springfield made significant progress for the Forest Preserves. He drafted and lobbied for legislation that ensured that the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s levy timing allowed for the realization of $41 million it would not have otherwise been able to use from the referendum and championed legislation that changed the employer pension contribution formula, averting fund insolvency and putting the fund on track to be 100% funded in 30 years; and
WHEREAS, in addition to passing advantageous legislation, Delio worked to protect the Forest Preserves from bills that would harm the Forest Preserves. He defeated legislation that would have eliminated the Forest Preserves Police Department; and
WHEREAS, he successfully lobbied the General Assembly during the 2019 Capital Bill, securing $10 million for the Red Gate Project - the largest project of its kind in Forest Preserves history - which is being used to improve over 1,000 acres of habitat; and
WHEREAS, Delio was instrumental in the passage of the 2022 Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife Habitat Protection Referendum, which passed with overwhelming support from voters. He worked closely with the Chief Attorney, CFO, and outside counsel to draft and advocate for the resolutions that placed the referendum question on the ballot and helped develop and deliver specialized ethics training for Forest Preserves staff leading into the referendum; and
WHEREAS, Delio has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a J.D. cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, along with members of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners, Interim General Superintendent Eileen Figel, and on behalf of all residents of Cook County, do hereby congratulate Mr. Delio Calzolari on a long career in public service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County, colleagues and friends, celebrate Delio’s leadership, dedication, and hard work, recognizing the significant, positive impact he made to the Forest Preserves of Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County wish Delio Calzolari an abundance of success and happiness as he embark upon a new chapter, expanding his interest and experiences. Delio will always be a cherished and respected part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County team legacy and will be greatly missed; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Mr. Delio Calzolari in recognition of his significant contributions and achievements to the Forest Preserves of Cook County.end