Tom Cullerton

Tom Cullerton
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2013
Preceded by Carole Pankau
Village President of Villa Park
In office
May 2009 – May 2013
Preceded by Joyce Stupegia
Succeeded by Deborah Bullwinkel
Personal details
Born September 20, 1969
Political party Democratic
Residence Villa Park, Illinois
Alma mater University of Kansas
Profession Teamster Route Salesman
Religion Catholic
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1991–1993

Tom Cullerton is a member of the Illinois Senate representing the 23rd district since 2013.[1] The 23rd district spans northern DuPage County and includes all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Bartlett, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Itasca, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wayne and Wood Dale.[2] Prior to his service in the Illinois Senate he was the Village President of Villa Park from 2009 to 2013 and served one term as a village trustee from 2005 to 2009.[3]

Early life

After graduating high school from Loyola Academy Cullerton went to Kansas University. In 1991 Cullerton enlisted in the US Army and served as an 11H TOW Gunner and combat medic until being honorably discharged in 1993.[4] After moving to DuPage County, Cullerton decided to become active in the community. He formed and served as a captain a local neighborhood watch. He also became a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and coaches little league with his team winning the 2011 Farm League World Series.[5]

Village President of Villa Park

In 2005 Tom Cullerton was elected a trustee for Villa Park and served one term before becoming the Village President in 2009.[6] While Village President, the other municipalities from his region of DuPage County elected him to serve as their municipal representative to the DuPage Water Commission. While in office he was an active member of the DuPage Mayors & Managers Conference and the Metropolitan Mayors.[7]

Illinois State Senate

In November 2011 Tom Cullerton announced his candidacy for state senate in the newly redrawn 23rd district. In the March 2012 primary he won the Democratic nomination defeating two perennial candidates.[8][9] In the general election he faced incumbent State Senator Carole Pankau, the winner of the Republican nomination against State Representative Randy Ramey.[10] Cullerton was endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood, Personal PAC, Equality Illinois and the Illinois Sierra Club.[11] Tom Cullerton won the general election defeating 20 year Springfield incumbent Senator Pankau by a margin of a little over 2,000 votes[12] to become the first Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from DuPage County since Joseph Sam Perry left the Illinois Senate in 1943.[13]

Senator Cullerton was first sworn in to represent the 23rd district on January 9, 2013.[1] In the Illinois General Assembly Cullerton's associated representatives are Republican representative Dennis Reboletti Democratic representative Deb Conroy. Senator Cullerton's current committee assignments are Appropriations II, Labor And Commerce, Local Government, State Government & Veterans Affairs and Transportation.[14]

At the beginning of the General Assembly, Senator Cullerton joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers who turned down a pension as part of the effort to fix the state's pension system.[15] In January 2013, Senator Cullerton proposed his first bill which would allow county boards to more easily reduce crime in residential areas by adopting crime free rental housing ordinances.[16]

During his first term, Senator Cullerton has also advocated to allow DuPage County to consolidate several forms of local government to increase effectiveness and save taxpayer dollars which passed the Senate unanimously.[17]

Electoral history

Illinois State Senate 23rd District General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas E Cullerton 39,025 51.33
Republican Carole Pankau (incumbent) 37,008 48.67
Democratic gain from Republican
Illinois State Senate District 23 Democratic Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas E Cullerton 3,130 40.76
Democratic Kevin Allen 2,344 30.52
Democratic Greg Brownfield 2,206 28.72
Total votes 7,680 100
Village President of Villa Park election, 2009
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Thomas Cullerton 1,872 53.81
Independent Albert Bulthuis 1,133 32.57
Independent Joyce Stupegia (incumbent) 474 13.62
Total votes 3,479 100

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Cullerton Joins Illinois State Senate". Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  2. ↑ Veeneman, Drew. "Map of 23rd District" (PDF). precinctmaps.com. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  3. ↑ "Village President Thomas Cullerton". Village of Villa Park. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  4. ↑ "Biography". Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  5. ↑ "Daily Herald Candidate Profile 2012".
  6. ↑ "Village of Villa Park Official Thomas Cullerton Biography".
  7. ↑ "Chicago Tribune Candidate Profile". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  8. ↑ "General Primary Results 03/20/2012 – 23rd Senate District". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Marie. "Cullerton Lead Holding in 23rd Senate". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  10. ↑ "General Primary Results 03/20/2012 – 23rd Senate". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  11. ↑ "Endorsements". Friends of Tom Cullerton. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  12. ↑ General Election Results 2012. "General Primary Results 03/20/2012 – 23rd Senate". DuPage County Election Commission. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  13. ↑ McKinney, Dave. "Democrat From DuPage Heads to Senate in Springfield". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  14. ↑ "Senator Biography Thomas Cullerton (D)23rd District". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  15. ↑ Graham, Doug T. "Some suburban lawmakers forgo pensions". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  16. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1155". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  17. ↑ Riopell, Mike. "Senate: Let DuPage leaders eliminate governments". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2013-04-25.

External links