No single phrase can perfectly describe Mayor Lightfoot’s life, but she will to break through the glass ceiling has earned her an irremovable spot in American political history.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mayor Lori Lightfoot wife has played an indispensable role in her personal and professional life.
The former Chicago mayor started defying the odds when she became the first openly lesbian African-American woman to be elected Mayor.
Lightfoot’s strength and resilience are proof of her having a solid support system in the shape of her wife, Amy Eshleman.
Years before she was elected as Chicago’s 56th Mayor, she met her better half and tied her down for the rest of their lives on the same day when same-s*x marriages became legal in Illinois.
On May 31st, 2014, the state of Illinois witnessed a historical moment as, after years of struggle on the LGBTQ+ community’s behalf, same-s*x marriages were finally made legal.
Undoubtedly, this step opened up doors for the LGBTQ+ community to legalize their relationships, but what motivated them further to do so was the former Mayor’s marriage to her partner, Eshleman.
While reminiscing about their wedding day, Mayor Lori Lightfoot wife told The Chicago Tribune: “To be able to be married on that day felt big. You want certain things for yourself, and falling in love and having a family and doing all those things felt important to us.”
The Mayor who opened the doors for thousands of others to follow walked through the doors of City Hall the last time on May 12th as her term as Chicago’s Mayor came to an end.
City’s 56th mayor bid goodbye to her fifth-floor office at the City Hall after serving a four-year long term.
Mayor Lori’s mayoral term could be termed both historic and turbulent. Packed with groundbreaking measures, clickbait headlines, and unexpected setbacks, Lightfoot’s tenure will be remembered for a long time.
Chicago’s first Black female mayor received a momentous sendoff from her colleagues. She walked through the hallways surrounded by claps, happy cheers, and emotional glances.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wife, Amy Eshleman, accompanied her on her farewell. She was seen greeting her wife’s colleagues with a big smile.
Referring to the wonderful send-off, Lightfoot said, “It’s been a glorious morning.”
The former Mayor received her fair share of criticism and setbacks during her tenure, but she navigated through them with her head held high.
In her farewell address, Mayor Lori Lightfoot recalled her accomplishments, such as raising the city’s minimum wage and focusing federal COVID-19 relief dollars on the South and West sides.
She highlighted the importance of staying hopeful. She mentioned that hope directs one in the right direction and makes one resilient and motivated.
Moreover, she also offered the elected Mayor, Brandon Johnson, a word of advice. She told him to be the Mayor of the entire city and ensure his efforts were distributed equally amongst the citizens of Chicago.
Last but not least, she mentioned that even after formally retiring, her door will always remain open for the new Mayor, and she will be available for help whenever Johnson needs it.
After defying the odds all her life, the Mayor deserved an exit that would go down in history. Mayor Lori Lightfoot wife, Amy Eshleman, accompanied her at the time, and the two went off in style in a 1940 Cadillac.
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“Bye everybody! It’s been fun,” were Lightfoot’s last words as the car sped up and pulled away from the crowds.
The former mayor received prayers, luck, and good wishes from her admirers as she stepped into the next phase of her life.
It’s currently not known what she will be upto, but she has mentioned that she will most likely be focusing on her family.
The end of Mayor Lightfoot’s tenure marks the end of an era, and the city of Chicago will deeply miss her remarkable presence.
Moving forward, let’s get an insight into the former Mayor’s personal life.
Who is Mayor Lori Lightfoot wife, Amy Eshleman?
Lori and Amy tied the knot on May 31st, 2014. Since then, the two have been each other’s pillars of strength and the building block of each other’s careers.
Amy hails from Sterling, Illinois, and she serves as a local community leader and philanthropist. As per sources, Amy received a degree in history from Miami University in 1984.
Even before meeting Lori, Amy was not a stranger to politics, as she worked in the US House of Representatives from 1984 to 1988.
After completing her designated time with Congress, Amy moved back to Chicago. There she worked as the Assistant Commissioner for the city’s public library for 20 years.
A few years after tying the knot, Lori and Amy adopted a baby girl named Vivian. She’s the pair’s only child and is often seeing accompanying her parents.
How did Lori and Amy meet?
Lori and Amy first bumped into each other when the latter’s co-worker Mary Dempsey was tasked to work with Lori in then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s tenure.
Through Lori and Mary’s work with former mayor Daley, Lori eventually met Amy. After Lori was elected the 56th Mayor of Chicago on May 20, 2019, Amy became the First Lady of Chicago.
Although Amy and Lori met long before they got married, they kept their relationship hidden until same-s*x marriages were legalized in Illinois.
Lori is the first openly lesbian African-American woman to assume a mayor’s office in the US.
Lastly, to serve as the mayor of one of the country’s biggest cities must have had a fruitful monetary outcome. Let’s look at the former African-American mayor’s net worth and earnings.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot net worth
At the time of her retirement, Lori Lightfoot’s net worth was estimated to be $3 million.
So many years in politics ought to have an excellent monetary outcome, and the former mayor’s net worth is a testament to it.
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