Kirk W. Dillard

Kirk W. Dillard is a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate, representing the 24th District since 1994. He is former chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. Dillard is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, serving as Illinois state leader.^[1]

Early life and education

Dillard was born in Chicago. 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, and later obtained his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Dillard serves as a Public Policy School mentor for the University of Chicago.

Early career

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. Dillard was a judge on the Illinois Court of Claims from 1987 through 1991, and was a member of the Republican Illinois State Central Committee. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and is a partner at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP.

Illinois State Senate

Dillard has been serving in the Illinois Senate since 1994. 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, Barack Obama.^[4]

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 cosponsored the Senior Citizens Tax Deferral program.^[5]

Dillard was a sponsor of Illinois' first major campaign finance and ethics reform in 25 years.^[6]

Illinois Governor campaigns

2010

On July 8, 2009, Dillard officially announced his candidacy for governor in Hinsdale, Illinois.^[7][8] He opened a campaign office on Ogden Avenue 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.^[9] 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, leading conservative activists to compare him to Dede Scozzafava.^{[10][11][12][13]}

In his campaign for governor, Dillard was endorsed by the Illinois State Rifle Association,^[14]National Rifle Association,^[14] llinois Education Association,^[15] Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, Sangamon County Republican Party, Family-PAC, Aurora Beacon News, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, Peoria Journal Star, Elgin Courier, Kankakee City News, Naperville Sun, News-Herald, Southtown Star, Southwest News-Herald, Springfield State Journal-Register, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.^[16] He was also endorsed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.^[17][18][19]

Dillard placed second, losing to Bill Brady by 193 votes. Dillard did not concede the race until a month after the election.

2014

Dillard is running with Jil Tracy.

Reputation

In 2004, an unsigned opinion piece in the New York Times called on Dillard to run against his old friend Barack Obama for U.S. Senator, stating "Illinois needs you -- and so does Mr. Obama."^[20]

Dillard has been called an "accomplished and articulate legislator," by Politico.^[21]

Awards and honors

The following awards and honors have been given to Dillard during his time in the Illinois Senate:

• Crain's Chicago Business "Who's Who in Chicago Business".
• University of Illinois at Springfield's Illinois Issues Magazine, "Legislative Staff Hall of Fame.
• "Outstanding Legislator" presented by both the nation's private bi-partisan and Republican legislators associations.
• Illinois State Crime Commission "Legislator of the Year".
• Family PAC "Legislator of the Year" & "Friend of the Family" awards.
• Illinois Equal Justice Foundation - "Champion of Justice Award" for providing legal aid to low-income families.
• Illinois Press Association - "Legislative Service Award" for dedication to strengthening Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Acts.
• Illinois Chamber of Commerce - "Champion of Free Enterprise".
• Named Western Illinois University's "Man of the Year" in 1977.
• The Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Association named Dillard an “Outstanding Legislator for 1999.”^[22]
• Illinois Civil Justice League "Friends of Fairness" Award

References

External links

• Kirk Dillard for Governor
• Senator Kirk W. Dillard (R) at the Illinois General Assembly
  • By session: 98th, 97th, 96th, 95th, 94th, 93rd
• State Senator Kirk Dillard constituency site
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Collected news and commentary at Chicago Tonight, WTTW, PBS
• Collected news and commentary at the Chicago Tribune