Patrick Daniel Welch (December 12, 1948 – January 7, 2020) was an American politician who served as a
Democratic member of the
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...
, representing the 38th district from 1983 to 2005. He served as an Assistant Majority Leader during his final term.
Early life
Patrick Welch was born on December 12, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended college earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government from
Southern Illinois University and a
J.D. degree from the
Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Illinois Senate
Welch first entered the
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...
after winning what was thought to be a strongly
Republican district against
Betty J. Hoxsey
Betty June (née Whittaker) Hoxsey Justus (May 23, 1923 – August 11, 2011) was an American farmer and politician.
Born in Leland, Illinois, Hoxsey graduated from Ottawa Township High School and then farmed in Serena Township, LaSalle County, ...
in the closest Illinois Senate election of 1982. During his time in the Illinois Senate he was appointed to the Illinois Task Force on Global Climate Change, and proposed saving taxpayers money by eliminating the office of
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois During his tenure Welch was a perennial target of the
Illinois Republican Party
The Illinois Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in the U.S. state of Illinois founded in May 29, 1856. It is run by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, which consists of 18 members, one representing each of ...
, but managed to defeat major efforts to unseat him including a $500,000 spending effort in 1990 and a 700 vote margin of victory in 1994. He lost election in 2004 to
Gary G. Dahl
Gary G. Dahl (born December 5, 1940) is a former Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 38th district from 2005 until his December 2010 resignation for personal reasons.
In 2009, Senator Dah ...
.
Death
He died of complications of a stroke on January 7, 2020, at age 71. He was also suffering from dementia prior to his death.
References
External links
Illinois General Assembly - Senator Patrick Welch (D) 38th Districtofficial IL Senate website
BillsCommittees
*''Follow the Money'' - Patrick Welch
2004200019981996
campaign contributions
profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welch, Patrick
1948 births
2020 deaths
People with dementia
People from Peru, Illinois
Lawyers from Chicago
Politicians from Chicago
Southern Illinois University alumni
Chicago-Kent College of Law alumni
Democratic Party Illinois state senators