| Kirk W. Dillard | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 24th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1994 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1955 Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Stephanie |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Website | Kirk Dillard for Governor |
Kirk W. Dillard is a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate, representing the 24th District since 1994 and a former Chairman of the DuPage Republican Party. He is a resident of DuPage County and currently resides in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Dillard ran unsuccessfully in the February 2010 primary for Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois.[1]
Dillard was the Chief of Staff to former Governor Jim Edgar, starting in 1991, for Edgar's first term. He also served as the Director of Legislative Affairs to former Governor James R. Thompson. Further, Dillard was a Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims (1987–1991), and was a member of the Republican Illinois State Central Committee. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and is a partner at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, one of Chicago's oldest and largest law firms.
Dillard has been serving in the Illinois Senate since 1994. He graduated from Hinsdale Central High School, where he is now a Hall of Fame Alumnus,[2] received his B.A. from Western Illinois University (Recipient-"Distinguished Alumni Award"-1997) and later obtained his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law...where he serves on its Dean's Advisory Council. Dillard also serves as a Public Policy School Mentor for the University of Chicago. In the 95th General Assembly, he serves as the Senate GOP Whip.[3]
In June 2007, he appeared in an Iowa TV ad touting his former state senate colleague and friend, Barack Obama.[4] Dillard's appearance in the Obama campaign commercial has drawn ire from mainstream Republicans.
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On July 8, 2009, Kirk Dillard officially announced his candidacy for governor in Hinsdale, Illinois.[5][6] Dillard was seen as one of the front runners immediately. He opened a campaign office on Ogden Avenue (Chicago) in Lisle, Illinois.
Dillard attempted to frame his campaign as focused on enacting Illinois ethics reform and making the state more financially responsible to the taxpayers.[7] The field for the February 2, 2010 primary was crowded, with seven Republicans running. Dillard was dogged through the entire campaign for a commercial in which he appeared to endorse Democrat Barack Obama for President were conservative activists compared him to Dede Scozzafava.[8][9][10][11]
Dillard placed second, losing to Bill Brady by 193 votes. Dillard did not concede the race until a month after the election.[1]
In his campaign for governor, Dillard was endorsed by the following associations and newspapers:[12]
He was also endorsed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.[15][16][17]
Currently, Dillard serves in the Illinois Senate as the Co-Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, and Chairman of the High Technology Task Force. He also serves on the Senate Committee as a Whole; Environment & Energy Committee; Executive Appointments Committee; Licensed Activities Committee; and the Subcommittee on Amendments; Subcommittee on Special Issues (Where he is the Sub-Minority Spokesperson); and the Environment & Energy Subcommittee.
Dillard was a sponsor of Illinois' Truth-in-Sentencing law that ensures criminals serve full sentences. He was the chief sponsor of the "15-20-Life" gun control law that automatically increases jail time for a criminal using a gun in Illinois. He supported legislation requiring Illinois' felons to take DNA tests. Dillard addressed laws outlawing date rape drug and other designer drugs. He sponsored laws cracking down on sexual predators and improving the Amber Alert system.
Dillard was a sponsor of Illinois' first major campaign finance and ethics reform in 25 years.[18]
Dillard was the chief sponsor of law to return the Pledge of Allegiance to Illinois high schools. He also brought the "Safe to Learn" legislation to the senate to ensure children's safety when they are at school. Furthermore, he was the chief sponsor creating the "Illinois Century Network" linking vast information sources to schools, libraries, museums, and federal research laboratories via high speed telecommunications networks.
Dillard cosponsored the Senior Citizens Tax Deferral program.[19]
The Chicago Sun-Times has said that Dillard "has a reputation for getting along with all types and factions." The Daily Herald has been quoted saying "Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, is one of the most qualified individuals for the job of lawmaker. In 2004, the New York Times called on Dillard to run against Democratic candidate, and close Dillard friend, Barack Obama.[20]
Dillard has also been called an "accomplished and articulate legislator," by Politco.[21]
The following awards and honors have been given to Senator Dillard during his time in the Illinois Senate:
Illinois Civil Justice League "Friends of Fairness" Award
In 2004, Dillard was elected as the chairman of the DuPage Republican Party, after his predecessor of over 30 years, James Philip stepped down. Dillard was reelected in 2006 and served through April 30, 2007. Prior to being elected chairman of the county, Dillard served as Chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization. Downers Grove Mayor, Brian Krajewski, has since been elected chairman of the township.
In 2007, fellow Illinois senator, Dan Cronin, was elected chairman of the DuPage GOP.
Dillard briefly served on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee for the 13th Congressional District of Illinois, but decided not to seek reelection to the position in 2006. Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook, Illinois ran for and was elected to that post in April 2006.
Kirk Dillard and his wife, Stephanie, have two daughters, Emma and Ava. Stephanie is the great, great granddaughter of former Illinois Governor, Richard James Oglesby. Oglesby was the individual who nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency and nicknamed Lincoln, "The Rail-Splitter".