Toi Hutchinson

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Toi Hutchinson
Speaking in Chicago Heights
Speaking in Chicago Heights (2010)
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 40th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2009 (2009-Jan-05)
Preceded by Debbie Halvorson
Personal details
Born (1973-05-20) May 20, 1973
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Paul Hutchinson
Children 3 Children
Residence Olympia Fields, Illinois
Alma mater University of Illinois
Religion Christian

Toi Hutchinson (born May 20, 1973) is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 40th District. She was appointed in January 2009 to complete the rest of Debbie Halvorson's term (following Halvorson's 2008 election to the United States House of Representatives.[1] The 40th district includes all or parts of Bradley, Bourbonnais, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Homewood, Hopkins Park, Kankakee, Olympia Fields, Peotone and University Park.[2] Prior to her service in the Illinois Senate, Hutchinson was City Clerk for the Village of Olympia Fields, Illinois.[1]

Early life and career

At nine years old Hutchinson moved to Country Club Hills, Illinois, where she was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents. She attended Infant Jesus of Prague elementary school in Flossmoor, and Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields. At the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and minoring in Psychology.[3] Hutchinson returned to her old high school as an English teacher.[4] She is married to Paul Hutchinson, a Senior Systems Engineer; they reside in Olympia Fields with their three children.[5]

Hutchinson has experience working for various causes. She worked on behalf of the State Alliance of YMCAs, and for the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Council. In 2004, she became an Executive Management Fellow in the Women and Leadership program created by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.[5] That same year, Hutchinson ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor of Bloom Township, Illinois (in Cook County). The day after that election, she accepted a position on the staff of then-State Senator Debbie Halvorson, in neighboring Chicago Heights, Illinois. Hutchinson eventually became Halvorson's Chief of Staff.[4]

State Senate

When Halvorson (who was Majority Leader of the Illinois State Senate, at the time) won an election to become a U.S. Representative, Hutchinson was appointed to take over Halvorson's Senate seat. Hutchinson's term began in January 2009; as of October 2010, she was serving on the following committees:

  • Agriculture and Conservation
  • Labor
  • Local Government
  • State Government and Veteran Affairs (V.C)
  • Transportation

Some of the state legislation Hutchinson has sponsored includes: After School Youth Development (creating the Illinois Youth Development Council, to oversee and support public funds invested in youth development); an amendment to the Family Military Leave Act (to include grandparents and children in the category of 'employees' who may request family military leave); and, expanding both the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (to provide relief to a larger number of low-income families).[6] She has a 92 percent positive rating from the National Rifle Association.[1]

2013 Congressional Special Election

After Jesse Jackson Jr resigned from being the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 2nd congressional district, on November 29, 2012 Hutchinson announced her intent to run in the 2013 special election to fill that seat in the United States Congress.[7] She was endorsed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Illinois State Representatives Anthony DeLuca, Lisa Dugan, Al Riley, and Thaddeus Jones. She has also been endorsed by the Mayors of Flossmoor and Kankakee, Illinois.[8] She has also received an "A-" rating from the National Rifle Association (a firearms advocacy group) for her voting record on gun-regulation-related issues.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Krenek, Jon. "Dems select Halvorson's replacement". The Daily Journal (Kankakee, IL). Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  2. ↑ Veeneman, Drew. "Map of 40th District". precinctmaps.com. Retrieved 2012-12-22. 
  3. ↑ "Biography". Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Biography". Toi for Illinois. Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Senator Biography". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  6. ↑ Hutchinson, Senator My Bills, June 28, 2010
  7. ↑ Sewall, Michael. "Toi Hutchinson Announces Run for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Congressional Seat". Homewood-Flosmoor Patch. Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  8. ↑ "Endorsements". Toi for Illinois. Retrieved 2012-12-23. 
  9. ↑ http://votesmart.org/candidate/110916/toi-hutchinson?categoryId=37#.USGHAvJS58E
  10. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/debbie-halvorson-nra_n_2661230.html

External links

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