REMEMBERING CLINT REILLY

On 2026-07-28, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING CLINT REILLY" in the Senate.

REMEMBERING CLINT REILLY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 123 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4293-S4294] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ REMEMBERING CLINT REILLY Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of Clint Reilly, a legendary San Franciscan who passed away on July 19 at the age of 79. Clint's influence on California politics and on the civic life of San Francisco helped shape our State for decades--and will continue to do so for generations to come. Born in Oakland and raised in San Leandro as the oldest of 10 children in a working-class Catholic family, Clint learned early what hard work looked like, watching his father deliver milk for Berkeley Farms and ice cream for Dreyer's to support their family. But just as importantly, he learned from his parents that success carried with it a responsibility to serve others. ``We didn't really have any money,'' he said in one interview, ``but they practiced charity in their daily lives, in their generosity to us kids, but also in their generosity to other families, other big families, other members of the community.'' Those values only grew stronger and more ingrained in Clint throughout the 9 years he spent studying and preparing to become a Catholic priest, earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Patrick's Seminary along the way. But even though he ultimately found his calling in public life rather than the pulpit, Clint often said that those years never stopped guiding him, reinforcing the belief that politics could--and should--be a force for improving people's lives and creating a more just society. Clint went on to redefine political consulting in California, pioneering an integrated approach to campaigns that helped shape the profession for a generation while advising political leaders [[Page S4294]] including the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, former Senator Barbara Boxer, former State Senator Quentin Kopp, former mayors Frank Jordan and Richard Riordan, and others; he never lost sight of those values. What distinguished Clint was the fact that he never viewed campaigns as simply winning elections, but electing principled leaders who would deliver meaningful results for families and communities. His commitment to San Francisco extended far beyond politics. As a businessman, he invested not only in San Francisco's skyline through commercial real estate, but also in its civic conversation by championing local journalism through publications, including the San Francisco Examiner. He understood that strong communities depend on strong civic institutions, and he remained deeply committed to preserving and strengthening San Francisco's. But perhaps nowhere was Clint's character more evident than in his philanthropy. Together with his beloved wife Janet, he dedicated extraordinary time, talent, and generosity to expanding opportunities for others. Through the Bay Scholars initiative he created, he helped open the doors of college-preparatory education to hundreds of students from low-income families. Through Clinic by the Bay and countless other charitable efforts, Clint and Janet demonstrated that giving back means more than writing a check; it means investing your time, your talents, and our heart in your community and helping others build brighter futures. Throughout his life--as a seminarian, political strategist, businessman, publisher, and philanthropist--Clint never lost sight of the values that first shaped him: faith, service, and a belief that each of us has a responsibility to leave our communities stronger than we found them. San Francisco is a better city because he lived those values every day. Angela's and my thoughts are with Janet, their daughters Jill and Ava, and everyone whose lives were touched by Clint's generosity, leadership, and friendship. May they find comfort in knowing that his extraordinary legacy will live on in the institutions he strengthened, the people he mentored, the students whose futures he transformed, and the city he loved so deeply. ____________________