| Tim Bivins | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 45th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Todd Sieben |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Terri |
| Residence | Dixon, Illinois |
Timothy K. "Tim" Bivins (born ca. 1952) is the State Senator for the 45th District in northwestern Illinois, serving since his appointment on March 7, 2008.
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Bivins previously served as sheriff of Lee County, Illinois, which includes Dixon. He was elected sheriff in 1986 and served until 2006, retiring as Lee County's longest seving sheriff.[1] He served on security details for President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H. Bush, Vice President Dan Quayle, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Governor Jim Edgar, Governor Jim Thompson, Governor George Ryan, and United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald. During his tenure as Sheriff, Tim served as President of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. Speaker Hastert named him to the Department of Justice Medal of Valor Review Board, an advisory group to President George Bush. Tim also served on the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, having been appointed by then-Governor Jim Edgar.
Committee assignments: State Government & Veterans Affairs (Minority Spokesperson); Agriculture and Conservation; Appropriations I; Commerce; Criminal Law; Committee of the Whole; Joint Comm. on Government Reform; Criminal Law Subcomm. on Firearms; Subcommittee on Animal Welfare; Subcommittee on Coal Mining; Subcomm. on Fertilizers & Chemicals.
To get the state budget back on track, he advocates a return to fiscal discipline and spending restraint, rather than increasing debt. He supports tax cuts. He is a strong supporter of gun rights.
Four of five bills sponsored by Senator Bivins in his first legislative session – covering ethics, local schools, county jails and law enforcement – were passed by lawmakers. The 45th District Senator also finished the fiscal year with money to spare in his legislative account – which he returned to the state’s coffers. During the fall of 2008, he sponsored a number of public hearings in northwestern Illinois about the closing of state parks and historic sites by former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Bivins and his wife, Terri, live in Dixon and have two married children, a daughter and a son, and five grandchildren. He is an avid volleyball player and coach, coaching at the high school level for 12 years.