Carl Hawkinson is a former state legislator, State's Attorney

State's Attorney

In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...

, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety in the State of Illinois.

Public Offices

Carl Hawkinson served as Knox County

Knox County, Illinois

Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,919, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 55,836 in 2000...

 States Attorney from 1976 to 1983. He left the office of States Attorney when elected State Representative as a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 representing Illinois' 94th District from 1983 to 1987, after two terms as State Representative, Hawkinson successfully ran for Senate where he served as Illinois State Senator representing Illinois' 47th District from 1987 to 2003. In 2000 he made an unsuccessful run for the Illinois State Supreme Court, winning the Republican party primary but losing in the general election to Thomas Kilbride. Carl Hawkinson served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety for the State of Illinois from 2003 to 2005. While holding this position he was the top Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 in the Blagojevich administration. Hawkinson was educated as an undergraduate at North Park University

North Park University

North Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...

 in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

, and received his graduate degree from Harvard.

Lieutenant Governor campaign

In 2002 Carl Hawkinson ran for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for...

 as the running mate

Running mate

A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...

 of Illinois Attorney General

Illinois Attorney General

The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage...

 Jim Ryan

Jim Ryan (politician)

James E. Ryan is an American politician who served two four-year terms as Illinois Attorney General. A career Republican, he received his party's nomination and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois against Rod Blagojevich in 2002. He has been a professor at Benedictine University since 2003...

. Both men won in the Republican primary where Hawkinson received 47% of the vote defeating State Representative William O'Connor

William O'Connor

William Scott O'Connor was an American fencer who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics. He won the silver medal in the singlestick competition.He wa born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and died in Manhattan....

, Jack McInerney

Jack McInerney

John "Jack" McInerney is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...

, and Charles Owens, but lost to Rod Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich

Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...

 and Pat Quinn

Pat Quinn (politician)

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...

 in the general election.

Electoral history

• 2002 Race for Governor / Lieutenant Governor
  • Rod Blagojevich
    Rod Blagojevich
    Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
    
     / Pat Quinn
    Pat Quinn (politician)
    Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
    
     (D), 52%
  • Jim Ryan
    Jim Ryan (politician)
    James E. Ryan is an American politician who served two four-year terms as Illinois Attorney General. A career Republican, he received his party's nomination and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois against Rod Blagojevich in 2002. He has been a professor at Benedictine University since 2003...
    
     / Carl Hawkinson (R), 45%

• 2000 Race for Illinois Supreme Court; 3rd District
  • Tom Kilbride (D), 52%
  • Carl Hawkinson (R), 48%