Kirk W. Dillard
Encyclopedia
Kirk W. Dillard is a Republican
member of the Illinois State Senate, representing the 24th District since 1994 and a former Chairman of the DuPage Republican Party. He is a resident of DuPage County and currently resides in Hinsdale, Illinois
.
Dillard ran unsuccessfully in the February 2010 primary for Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois
.
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
. Further, Dillard was a Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims
(1987–1991), and was a member of the Republican Illinois State Central Committee. He currently sits on the Board of Directors
for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and is a partner at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, one of Chicago
's oldest and largest law firms.
Dillard has been serving in the Illinois Senate since 1994. He graduated from Hinsdale Central High School, where he is now a Hall of Fame Alumnus, received his B.A.
from Western Illinois University
(Recipient-"Distinguished Alumni Award"-1997) and later obtained his J.D.
from the DePaul University
College of Law...where he serves on its Dean's Advisory Council. Dillard also serves as a Public Policy School Mentor for the University of Chicago
. In the 95th General Assembly
, he serves as the Senate GOP Whip.
In June 2007, he appeared in an Iowa
TV ad touting his former state senate colleague and friend, Barack Obama
. Dillard's appearance in the Obama campaign commercial has drawn ire from mainstream Republicans.
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. 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 were conservative activists compared him to Dede Scozzafava.
Dillard placed second, losing to Bill Brady
by 193 votes. Dillard did not concede the race until a month after the election.
He was also endorsed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar
.
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.
tests. Dillard addressed laws outlawing date rape
drug and other designer drugs. He sponsored laws cracking down on sexual predators and improving the Amber Alert
system.
to Illinois high schools. He also brought the "Safe to Learn" legislation to the senate to ensure children's safety when they are at school. Furthermore, he was the chief sponsor creating the "Illinois Century Network" linking vast information sources to schools, libraries, museums, and federal research laboratories via high speed telecommunications networks.
has said that Dillard "has a reputation for getting along with all types and factions." The Daily Herald has been quoted saying "Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, is one of the most qualified individuals for the job of lawmaker. In 2004, the New York Times called on Dillard to run against Democratic candidate, and close Dillard friend, Barack Obama
.
Dillard has also been called an "accomplished and articulate legislator," by Politco.
Illinois Civil Justice League "Friends of Fairness" Award
stepped down. Dillard was reelected in 2006 and served through April 30, 2007. Prior to being elected chairman of the county, Dillard served as Chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization. Downers Grove
Mayor, Brian Krajewski, has since been elected chairman of the township.
In 2007, fellow Illinois senator, Dan Cronin, was elected chairman of the DuPage GOP.
of Illinois, but decided not to seek reelection to the position in 2006. Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook, Illinois
ran for and was elected to that post in April 2006.
. Oglesby was the individual who nominated Abraham Lincoln
for the presidency and nicknamed Lincoln, "The Rail-Splitter".
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...
member of the Illinois State Senate, representing the 24th District since 1994 and a former Chairman of the DuPage Republican Party. He is a resident of DuPage County and currently resides in Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
.
Dillard ran unsuccessfully in the February 2010 primary for Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
.
Dillard was the Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Jim Edgar
Jim Edgar
James Edgar is an American politician who was the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. As a moderate Republican in a largely blue-leaning state, Edgar was a popular and successful governor, leaving office with high approval ratings...
, starting in 1991, for Edgar's first term. He also served as the Director of Legislative Affairs to former Governor James R. Thompson
James R. Thompson
James Robert Thompson, Jr. , also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the 37th and longest serving Governor of the US state of Illinois...
. Further, Dillard was a Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims
Court of Claims
The Court of Claims in the United Kingdom is a special court established after the accession of a new Sovereign to judge the validity of the claims of persons to perform certain honorary services at the coronation of the new monarch....
(1987–1991), and was a member of the Republican Illinois State Central Committee. He currently sits on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education and is a partner at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, one of 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...
's oldest and largest law firms.
Dillard has been serving in the Illinois Senate since 1994. He graduated from Hinsdale Central High School, where he is now a Hall of Fame Alumnus, received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
(Recipient-"Distinguished Alumni Award"-1997) and later obtained his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
College of Law...where he serves on its Dean's Advisory Council. Dillard also serves as a Public Policy School Mentor for the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. In the 95th General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
, he serves as the Senate GOP Whip.
In June 2007, he appeared in an Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
TV ad touting his former state senate colleague and friend, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Dillard's appearance in the Obama campaign commercial has drawn ire from mainstream Republicans.
Candidacy for Governor
On July 8, 2009, Kirk Dillard officially announced his candidacy for governor in Hinsdale, Illinois. Dillard was seen as one of the front runners immediately. He opened a campaign office on Ogden Avenue (Chicago)Ogden Avenue (Chicago)
Ogden Avenue is an arterial street extending from the Near West Side of Chicago to Aurora, Illinois.The street follows the route of the Southwestern Plank Road, which opened in 1848 across swampy terrain between Chicago and Riverside, Illinois, and was extended to Naperville by 1851.The 1909 Plan...
in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
.
Dillard attempted to frame his campaign as focused on enacting Illinois ethics reform and making the state more financially responsible to the taxpayers. The field for the February 2, 2010 primary
Illinois gubernatorial election, 2010
An election for Governor of Illinois was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat, sought and was elected to a full term. Quinn was elected as the Democratic nominee, the Green Party nominee was Rich Whitney, the Republican nominee was State Senator Bill Brady, the...
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 were conservative activists compared him to Dede Scozzafava.
Dillard placed second, losing to Bill Brady
Bill Brady (politician)
William E. "Bill" Brady, Jr. is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 44th Legislative District since his appointment in May 2002. He previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 88th District from 1993 to 2000.-Early life, education and...
by 193 votes. Dillard did not concede the race until a month after the election.
Endorsements
In his campaign for governor, Dillard was endorsed by the following associations and newspapers:- Illinois State Rifle Association
- National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle AssociationThe National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
- llinois Education Association
- Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150
- Sangamon County Republican Party
- Family-PAC
- Aurora Beacon News
- Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-TimesThe Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
- Crain's Chicago Business
- Peoria Journal Star
- Elgin Courier
- Kankakee City News
- Naperville Sun
- News-Herald (Joliet)
- Southtown Star
- Southwest News-Herald
- Springfield State Journal-Register
- St. Louis Post-DispatchSt. Louis Post-DispatchThe St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
He was also endorsed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar
Jim Edgar
James Edgar is an American politician who was the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. As a moderate Republican in a largely blue-leaning state, Edgar was a popular and successful governor, leaving office with high approval ratings...
.
Illinois Senate
Currently, Dillard serves in the Illinois SenateIllinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
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.
Crime legislation
Dillard was a sponsor of Illinois' Truth-in-Sentencing law that ensures criminals serve full sentences. He was the chief sponsor of the "15-20-Life" gun control law that automatically increases jail time for a criminal using a gun in Illinois. He supported legislation requiring Illinois' felons to take DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
tests. Dillard addressed laws outlawing date rape
Date rape
"Date rape", often referred to as acquaintance rape, is an assault or attempted assault usually committed by a new acquaintance involving sexual intercourse without mutual consent....
drug and other designer drugs. He sponsored laws cracking down on sexual predators and improving the Amber Alert
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
system.
Campaign finance reform
Dillard was a sponsor of Illinois' first major campaign finance and ethics reform in 25 years.Education
Dillard was the chief sponsor of law to return the Pledge of AllegiancePledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942...
to Illinois high schools. He also brought the "Safe to Learn" legislation to the senate to ensure children's safety when they are at school. Furthermore, he was the chief sponsor creating the "Illinois Century Network" linking vast information sources to schools, libraries, museums, and federal research laboratories via high speed telecommunications networks.
Reputation
The Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
has said that Dillard "has a reputation for getting along with all types and factions." The Daily Herald has been quoted saying "Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, is one of the most qualified individuals for the job of lawmaker. In 2004, the New York Times called on Dillard to run against Democratic candidate, and close Dillard friend, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Dillard has also been called an "accomplished and articulate legislator," by Politco.
Awards and honors
The following awards and honors have been given to Senator Dillard during his time in the Illinois Senate:- Crain's Chicago Business "Who's Who in Chicago Business".
- University of Illinois at SpringfieldUniversity of Illinois at SpringfieldThe University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
's Illinois Issues Magazine, "Legislative Staff Hall of Fame. - "Outstanding Legislator" presented by both the nation's private bi-partisan and RepublicanRepublican 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...
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.”
Illinois Civil Justice League "Friends of Fairness" Award
DuPage Republican Party
In 2004, Dillard was elected as the chairman of the DuPage Republican Party, after his predecessor of over 30 years, James PhilipJames Philip
James "Pate" Philip , is a Republican from Wood Dale, Illinois. Philip was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1966 to 1975, and the Illinois Senate from 1975 until his retirement in 2003...
stepped down. Dillard was reelected in 2006 and served through April 30, 2007. Prior to being elected chairman of the county, Dillard served as Chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization. Downers Grove
Downers Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove is a village in Downers Grove and Lisle Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.-History:...
Mayor, Brian Krajewski, has since been elected chairman of the township.
In 2007, fellow Illinois senator, Dan Cronin, was elected chairman of the DuPage GOP.
State Central Committee
Dillard briefly served on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee for the 13th Congressional DistrictCongressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
of Illinois, but decided not to seek reelection to the position in 2006. Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366...
ran for and was elected to that post in April 2006.
Personal life
Kirk Dillard and his wife, Stephanie, have two daughters, Emma and Ava. Stephanie is the great, great granddaughter of former Illinois Governor, Richard James OglesbyRichard James Oglesby
Richard James Oglesby was an Illinois statesman and U.S. Army officer. He served in the Mexican-American War and was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He also served Illinois in the legislature. Near the end of the civil war, he was elected the 14th Governor of...
. Oglesby was the individual who nominated Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
for the presidency and nicknamed Lincoln, "The Rail-Splitter".
External links
- Kirk Dillard for Governor
- Senator Kirk Dillard official website
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator Kirk W. Dillard (R) 24th District official IL Senate website
- Follow the Money - Kirk W. Dillard
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Kirk W. Dillard (IL)