Terry Link
Encyclopedia
Terry Link is a Democratic
member of the Illinois Senate
, representing the 30th District since 1997. He is also the Chairman of the Lake County
Democratic Party. In the 2010 Illinois Democratic primary, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of Lieutenant Governor
, losing to Scott Lee Cohen
(who was subsequently replaced on the Democratic ticket by Sheila Simon
).
Link was born in Waukegan, Illinois
and has remained a lifelong resident of Lake County. He has four daughters and two grandchildren. He attended North Chicago
High School before going on to Stout State University (now University of Wisconsin–Stout).
Prior to entering the Senate, Link was a partner in Major Industrial Trucking, a Lake County industrial equipment business. Link also worked at Johnson Controls
in the governmental affairs division. He his career in government began with the State Treasurer’s office and the Secretary of State’s office.
In 2009, Sen. Link raised controversy by proposing a law that would allow the use of stationary cameras to issue tickets to vehicles exceeding the speed limit, a move some consider an intrusive attempt to increase revenue while eroding privacy, while others see it as a legitimate means to reduce speed-related accidents.
Also in 2009, Link announced his decision to run for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, a position previously held by Pat Quinn
. Quinn became Governor after the impeachment of then-Governor Rod Blagojevich
, leaving the office of Lieutenant Governor temporarily vacant. The vacancy attracted a total of six Democratic hopefuls, including Link. Link came in sixth place out of the six candidates, with 12.2% of the vote.
In 2010, after the death of State Senator Eddie Washington
, who represented Illinois' 60th District (including North Chicago
and Waukegan
), Link, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, appointed Rita Mayfield
to fill the vacancy. This appointment came as a surprise to some local political observers.
An independent write-in candidate for the Washington vacancy, North Chicago Alderman Valerie DeVost, has accused Link of abusing his position as a member of the Metra
Board of Directors to cause her firing from the commuter rail system, as a form of political retribution for her candidacy against Link appointee Mayfield. However, Link is not, in fact, a member of the Metra Board of Directors.
Ironically, in the summer of 2010, Link called for all of the members of the Metra Board of Directors to resign.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Illinois Senate
Illinois 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...
, representing the 30th District since 1997. He is also the Chairman of the Lake County
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
Democratic Party. In the 2010 Illinois Democratic primary, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of Lieutenant Governor
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...
, losing to Scott Lee Cohen
Scott Lee Cohen
Scott Lee Cohen is an American politician and businessman who won the Democratic Party's 2010 nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, then withdrew under pressure shortly after the primary following revelations about his personal life and questions about his background...
(who was subsequently replaced on the Democratic ticket by Sheila Simon
Sheila Simon
Sheila J. Simon is an American politician and educator who is the 46th and current Lieutenant Governor of the state of Illinois. She was a Professor of Law at the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Simon is the daughter of former U.S...
).
Link was born in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
and has remained a lifelong resident of Lake County. He has four daughters and two grandchildren. He attended North Chicago
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
High School before going on to Stout State University (now University of Wisconsin–Stout).
Prior to entering the Senate, Link was a partner in Major Industrial Trucking, a Lake County industrial equipment business. Link also worked at Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was founded in 1885 by professor Warren S. Johnson, inventor of the first electric room thermostat....
in the governmental affairs division. He his career in government began with the State Treasurer’s office and the Secretary of State’s office.
In 2009, Sen. Link raised controversy by proposing a law that would allow the use of stationary cameras to issue tickets to vehicles exceeding the speed limit, a move some consider an intrusive attempt to increase revenue while eroding privacy, while others see it as a legitimate means to reduce speed-related accidents.
Also in 2009, Link announced his decision to run for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, a position previously held by 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,...
. Quinn became Governor after the impeachment of then-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...
, leaving the office of Lieutenant Governor temporarily vacant. The vacancy attracted a total of six Democratic hopefuls, including Link. Link came in sixth place out of the six candidates, with 12.2% of the vote.
In 2010, after the death of State Senator Eddie Washington
Eddie Washington
Eddie Washington was a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 60th District from 2003 until 2010. He was the sergeant at arms for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus....
, who represented Illinois' 60th District (including North Chicago
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
and Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
), Link, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, appointed Rita Mayfield
Rita Mayfield
Rita Mayfield is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the state's 60th district. She was picked to replace Democrat State Rep...
to fill the vacancy. This appointment came as a surprise to some local political observers.
An independent write-in candidate for the Washington vacancy, North Chicago Alderman Valerie DeVost, has accused Link of abusing his position as a member of the Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
Board of Directors to cause her firing from the commuter rail system, as a form of political retribution for her candidacy against Link appointee Mayfield. However, Link is not, in fact, a member of the Metra Board of Directors.
Ironically, in the summer of 2010, Link called for all of the members of the Metra Board of Directors to resign.
External links
- State Senator Terry Link district website
- Terry Link for Illinois Lt. Governor official website
- Illinois State Senator Terry Link official website
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator Terry Link (D) 30th District official IL Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Terry Link (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Terry Link
- Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Terry Link profile