April 2, 2007

John B. (Jack) O’Reilly, Jr., who had served as Mayor Pro Tem in Dearborn following the December 5 passing of Mayor Michael A. Guido, was elected mayor of his city on February 27. Endorsed by major news organizations and groups throughout the community, O’Reilly was heavily favored to win the special election held following the untimely loss of Guido, and in a field of 11 candidates garnered 94 percent of the vote.

O’Reilly, who had served as City Council President for 17 years prior to Guido’s passing, joins a small group of second generation mayors of U.S. cities: his father, John B. O’Reilly, Sr., was Guido’s predecessor in office, having served as mayor of Dearborn from 1978 to 1985.

The new mayor’s lifelong public service career includes service as Washington staff counsel and district director for U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell, and as chief of staff in the Michigan State Senate. In 1996 he became executive director of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, which administers workforce and substance abuse services to residents of Monroe and Wayne Counties living outside Detroit. O’Reilly’s experience includes directing or supporting services to senior citizens, families, and businesses in Dearborn, the region, and the State.

O’Reilly graduated from Dearborn’s St. Alphonsus High School; he received an Associate of Arts degree from Oakland University and Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Detroit. He and his wife, Christina, are the parents of three boys: Devon, Sean, and Dylan.