Lake Forest Leader Named Illinois Municipal League Vice Chair

Lake Forest City Manager Robert Kiely Jr. has been appointed vice chairman of the Illinois Municipal League’s (IML) legislative committee by IML President and Loves Park Mayor Darryl Lindberg. 

Kiely served as chairman of the committee from 2011-2013 and has been a member of the Committee since 1998.           

The Illinois Municipal League’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring of its legislative committee in 2013. The new committee will maintain a more active role in guiding the IML’s legislative program into the future. The work of the committee will be supported by six new policy committees that will assist with issue analysis and the development of an annual legislative agenda.

The IML is Illinois’ statewide lobby and education organization whose special interest is the people, so municipalities can have a powerful resource and voice in Springfield. IML’s mission is to keep decision making local. 

“There are tremendous challenges facing Illinois. It’s important that our state legislators receive input from local leaders if we hope to find solutions to improve the lives of our residents. Serving on the Illinois Municipal League’s legislative committee provides an ideal platform for participation in the legislative process,” Kiely said. 

Under the direction of the City Council, the city manager's responsibilities are to oversee the day-to-day operations of the City, which includes enforcement of city ordinances, recommendations of policy, and policy alternatives to the City Council, and the preparation of an annual budget for the council's review.

Kiely received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and urban studies from Lake Forest College in 1979, and a master’s degree in public administration from The University of Kansas in 1981. Kiely began his public service career as an assistant to the city manager in Lake Forest from 1980 to 1982. He then served the Village of Wilmette as an assistant village manager from 1982 to 1986 before accepting the position of city administrator for Prospect Heights, where he served from 1986 to 1990. He has served the citizens of Lake Forest since 1990.