Jim Durkin

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Jim Durkin
Jim Durkin
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 82nd district
In office
2006 -
Preceded by Eileen Lyons
Born January 28, 1961 (1961-01-28) (age 47)
Westchester, Illinois
Political party Republican
Spouse Celeste
Profession attorney
Religion Roman Catholic

Jim Durkin is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 82nd District since 2006 when he was sworn in to replace Eileen Lyons after she retired mid-term. He was elected on November 8, 2006, defeating Democrat Kim Savage. Durkin previously represented the 44th District from 1995 to 2002.

Contents

[edit] U.S. Senate campaign

In 2002, Jim Durkin ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent Dick Durbin. Durkin is considered to be a fiscal conservative, but a social moderate. [1] Jim Durkin received the Republican nomination with 46%, or 371,000 votes, defeating multi-millioniares Jim Oberweis and John H. Cox in the primary, but lost to Durbin in the general election, with 38%, or 1,302,000 votes.

[edit] Personal background

Jim Durkin was raised in the western Chicago suburb of Westchester and is a graduate of Divine Infant grade school and Fenwick High School. Jim attended Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal and graduated in 1984 with a degree in Criminal Justice, Jim competed his formal education at John Marshall Law School where he received his Juris Doctor in 1989.Durkin was an assistant Attorney General and an assistant Cook County States Attorney where he served as a felony prosecutor and a special prosecutor in the narcotics unit. In 2000, Durkin was state chairman for U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign in Illinois. He is now the 2007 Illinois co-chair and national legislative co-chair for McCain's presidential election. Durkin is also on the board of trustees at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago,and on the board of trustees for Misercordia Home in Chicago. Durkin lives in the western suburbs of Cook County with his wife Celeste and their four daughters. [1]

[edit] Electoral history

  • 2002 U.S. Senate race
  • 2006 Republican primary for State Rep. 82nd District
    • Jim Durkin 78.4%
    • William D. "Bill" Seith 21.6%
  • 2006 election for State Rep. 82nd District
    • Jim Durkin (R) 65%
    • Kim Savage (D) 35%

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Republican Durkin pushes conservative agenda Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved August 8, 2007

[edit] External links