} Thomas Michael Bennett (born June 8, 1956) is a Republican member-designate 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 ...

from the 53rd district. The 53rd district includes all or portions of

Bureau Bureau ( ) may refer to: Agencies and organizations *Government agency *Public administration * News bureau, an office for gathering or distributing news, generally for a given geographical location * Bureau (European Parliament), the administrat ...

, Ford, Grundy,

Iroquois The Iroquois ( or ), officially the Haudenosaunee ( meaning "people of the longhouse"), are an Iroquoian-speaking confederacy of First Nations peoples in northeast North America/ Turtle Island. They were known during the colonial years to ...

, LaSalle, Marshall,

McLean MacLean, also spelt Maclean and McLean, is a Goidelic languages, Gaelic surname Mac Gille Eathain, or, Mac Giolla Eóin in Irish language, Irish Gaelic), Eóin being a Gaelic form of Johannes (John (given name), John). The clan surname is an A ...

, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell,

Will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

, and

Woodford Woodford may refer to: Places Australia *Woodford, New South Wales *Woodford, Queensland, a town in the Moreton Bay Region *Woodford, Victoria Canada * Woodford, Ontario England *Woodford, Cornwall * Woodford, Gloucestershire *Woodford, Greate ...

counties in central Illinois. Prior to his appointment to the Illinois Senate, Bennett represented the 106th district in the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

and was Chairman of the Parkland College Board of Trustees.

Early life and career

Bennett is a lifelong resident of

Gibson City Gibson City is a city in Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,407 at the 2010 census. History The site of Gibson City was purchased and platted by Jonathan B. Lott in 1869. In 1870, Lott built a home and a post office there, ...

. He worked at

State Farm State Farm Insurance is a large group of mutual insurance companies throughout the United States with corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois. Overview State Farm is the largest property and casualty insurance provider, and the la ...

for 30 years and was previously a teacher at Melvin-Sibley High School. Tom and his wife Kathy, a retired high school teacher, have two children and four grandchildren. His nephew,

Scott M. Bennett Scott Michael Bennett (July 16, 1977 – December 9, 2022) was an American attorney, politician and Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 52nd district from 2015 to 2022. Early life Bennett was born in Gibson City, Illinois ...

, represented Champaign–Urbana. An elected member of the Parkland College Board of Trustees, Bennett became the board's chair taking over for James L. Ayers in April 2012. Bennett was succeeded in the role by Dana Trimble. In 2016, he was selected as an elector from

Illinois's 16th congressional district The 16th congressional district of Illinois is represented by Republican Darin LaHood. Geographic boundaries 2011 redistricting The congressional district covers parts of DeKalb, Ford, Stark, Will and Winnebago counties, and all of Boone, Bur ...

who would have been pledged to

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...

and

Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 50th ...

had they won Illinois's 20 electoral votes.

Illinois House of Representatives

At the time, the 106th district included all or parts of Ford,

Vermillion Vermilion (sometimes vermillion) is a color, color family, and pigment most often made, since antiquity until the 19th century, from the powdered mineral cinnabar (a form of mercury sulfide, which is toxic) and its corresponding color. It is ...

Livingston Livingston may refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North American custom ...

and

counties. During the 102nd General Assembly, Bennett was a member of the following Illinois House committees: * Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education Committee (HAPE) * Appropriations - Public Safety Committee (HAPP) * Child Care Access & Early Child Access Committee (HCEC) * Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies (HELM) * Law Enforcement Subcommittee (SHPF-LAWE) * Police & Fire Committee (SHPF) On January 28, 2020, Governor J.B. Prizker appointed Bennett to serve as a member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission for a term ending June 30, 2022. He was not confirmed during the 101st General Assembly and his appointment was carried over to the 102nd General Assembly for consideration.

Illinois Senate

After the resignation of Jason Barickman, Bennett was appointed to succeed Barickman as Senator from the 53rd district for the 103rd General Assembly.

Electoral History

References

External links

Illinois General Assembly Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Thomas M. Living people Businesspeople from Illinois People from Gibson City, Illinois Eastern Illinois University alumni Illinois State University alumni Nova Southeastern University alumni Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives 1956 births 21st-century American politicians Bennett family of Illinois