David McSweeney (politician)

David McSweeney
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 52nd district
Assumed office
January 2013
Preceded by Kent Gaffney
Personal details
Born 1965 (age 50–51)
Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Margaret
Children two
Alma mater Duke University
Profession investment specialist
Religion Lutheran

David McSweeney (born 1965) is a Republican politician and investment specialist from Barrington Hills, Illinois.

Early life, education and career

McSweeney was born in Park Ridge, Illinois and attended Barrington High School (Lake County, Illinois). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Duke University in 1987 and a master of business administration degree from the Fuqua School of Business in 1988. He has worked as an investment banker, financial consultant and currently as an investment specialist, working for Banc of America Securities until April 2005. He claims a net worth in the millions.[1]

Political career

In 1998, McSweeney unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican Phil Crane in the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives elections, 1998.[2]

McSweeney was the Republican nominee in Illinois's 8th congressional district election, 2006. He won in the six-way primary but lost to Melissa Bean in the general election with 44% of the vote to Bean's 51%.

In 2012 McSweeney was elected to the Illinois State Legislature, representing the 52nd Illinois State House District. McSweeney won the Republican nomination over incumbent Kent Gaffney, who had been appointed to the seat after the death of incumbent Mark Beaubien.[3] In the general election, McSweeney defeated Beaubien's widow, Dee Beaubien, who ran as an Independent. No Democrat filed for the seat.

McSweeney won re-election in 2014 against Democrat Bill Downs with 70 percent of the vote.[4]

Political positions

McSweeney is opposed to tax increases. On April 15, 2013, he filed a House resolution opposing the progressive income tax.[5] McSweeney also led the charge to oppose extending Illinois' income tax hike beyond the 2015 sunset date.[6] He considers himself a strong conservative in both the fiscal and social sense. Rep. McSweeney is Lutheran.[7]

McSweeney also has led an effort to pass a property tax freeze in Illinois. In 2014, he was able to push through HB 983 that helps prevent local governments from issuing bonds for projects that could result in higher property taxes.[8] In the spring of 2015, McSweeney introduced a measure to freeze property taxes for one year in townships with less than 100,000 people. The measure passed the House on April 23, 2015, and is currently being considered in the Senate.[9]

In response to widespread opposition to red light cameras, Rep. McSweeney sponsored HB 173 to ban red light cameras. The legislation included a compromise which exempted the City of Chicago. House Bill 173 passed the Illinois House with 79 votes.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Savodnik, Peter. "McSweeney intent on beating Bean in '06". The Hill. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20050410172430/http://www.fec.gov:80/pubrec/fe1998/ilh.htm. Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved April 21, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ "McSweeney wins three-way 52nd House District primary". Daily Herald. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Election Results : General Election - 11/04/2014Z". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  5. ↑ "McSweeney Marks Tax Day with Resolution Opposing Graduated Income Tax - Illinois Review". Illinoisreview.typepad.com. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  6. ↑ "Tax extension could come up in lame-duck session | Northwest Herald". Nwherald.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  7. ↑ "Public Affairs: Dave McSweeney [R-8th CD candidate] on Social Issues". Jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com. 2005-05-30. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  8. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0983". Ilga.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  9. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0178". Ilga.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  10. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0173". Ilga.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-19.

External links

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