A State Senator since December 1993, Kirk Dillard has been the chief sponsor of many landmark pieces of legislation, including Illinois’ first campaign finance/ethics reforms in 25 years, truth-in-sentencing to make sure felons serve their full sentences, mandatory DNA testing of all felons, the “Safe to Learn” Act ensuring school safety, the reorganization of the public higher education system, and the tough anti-gun crime law known as “15-20-Life.”
Senator Dillard authored the first statute outlawing date rape or designer drugs, bolstered public access to Internet information about sexual predators, established and improved the Amber Alert Child Emergency Location system in Illinois, and sponsored a new law to give citizens access to more information about sex offenders.
He cosponsored the comprehensive reform of Illinois’ capital punishment system, and has been a strong advocate for tort reform and medical malpractice insurance reform to assure access to health care in Illinois, especially for cases involving women, children and emergency situations. He sponsored the Commonsense Consumption Act to restrict civil lawsuits in state court by individuals who abuse a food product then seek damages based on a claim of injury from weight gain, obesity or any related health condition.
Dillard created thousands of jobs by shepherding the legislation to expand McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and the incentives to lure the Boeing Company Headquarters to Chicago. A Dillard bill was responsible for returning the Pledge of Allegiance to Illinois high schools after a 30-year absence, and successfully sponsored the Secretary of State’s railroad safety initiatives, which have dramatically reduced railroad crossing deaths.
Experience
From December 1990 to December 1993, Dillard served with distinction as Chief of Staff to former Governor Jim Edgar. He was a Judge on the Court of Claims from February 1987 to December 1990 and Director of Legislative Affairs for former Governor James Thompson from October 1983 to February 1987.
Committees
Dillard was appointed Senate Republican Whip in 2007. He is also Republican Spokesman of the Senate Judiciary Civil Law Committee and serves as a member of the Judiciary Criminal Law, Assignments Committee, Licensed Activities, Energy, Gaming and the Redistricting committees.
Organizations
Dillard is a member of the “Illinois Coalition,” a corporate, academic and government board that works to strengthen the Illinois economy through promoting science and technology. He serves as a mentor for the University of Chicago Graduate School of Public Policies Studies. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education in Hinsdale, the Dean’s Advisory Council for the DePaul University College of Law, and on the Advisory Board of Friends of Rush Children’s Hospital. He is past president of the Western Illinois University Alumni Council, member of the Union League Club of Chicago, Economic Club of Chicago, and chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. He is a founding member of the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58. Currently, Dillard serves as a member of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation.
Honors
2009 Award for “Outstanding Service to
DePaul University.” Crain’s Chicago
Business named Dillard to its “Who’s Who in Chicago Business.” He was inducted
into the University
of Illinois: Illinois Issues magazine’s Legislative
Staff “Hall of Fame” and the Hinsdale Central High School Foundation’s “Hall of Fame.” He
was named 2005 “Legislator of the Year” by the Illinois State Crime Commission
for his record in combating crime. In October 2005, the Illinois Equal Justice
Foundation presented Senator Dillard with its 2005 “Champion of Justice Award.”
He was named the 2002 “Champion of Free
Enterprise” by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce for his support of legislation
designed to strengthen the state’s job climate. He was named 2005 Friend of
Agriculture by the Illinois Farm Bureau. He received the 2005 DuPage County Bar
Association’s Board of Directors Award. The Chicago Bar Association awarded him
a “Commendation of Merit” for
his longstanding service to the legal profession. In 2005, he was named a “Leading Lawyer” in a survey of his peers in the Illinois legal community. The Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Association
named Dillard an “Outstanding Legislator for 1999.” The National Republican
Legislators Association presented him with its prestigious 1996 “Legislator of
the Year Award” for his extraordinary achievements in public service. He was
chosen the 1995 “Legislative Member of the Year” by the American Legislative
Exchange Council, the nation’s largest bipartisan legislators’ organization. He
has received the American Bar Association Award for “Best Performance” on Land
Use and Local Government Law. Dillard was named a “Guardian of Small Business”
in 1998 and 2000 by the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He
received the 1997 “Jobs Defender” Award from the Employment Law Council. Other
organizations honoring Dillard include the Illinois Alcohol and Drug Dependence
Association, Family-PAC, DuPage County Farm Bureau, Bolingbrook Medical Center,
Hinsdale Hospital and its Cancer Wellness House, Community Hospitals Against
the Medicaid Provider Tax, ABATE, and DuPage County Respite House for
medically-fragile children.
Personal
Dillard lives in Hinsdale with his wife, Stephanie, and daughters, Emma and Ava. A graduate of Hinsdale Central High School, he earned, with honors, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Western Illinois University and a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law. He is a partner with Locke, Lord, Bissell & Liddell, one of Chicago’s largest law firms.
