Mike Frerichs
Mike Frerichs | |
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Treasurer of Illinois | |
Assumed office January 12, 2015 | |
Governor | Bruce Rauner |
Preceded by | Dan Rutherford |
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 52nd district | |
In office January 2007 – January 12, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Rick Winkel |
Succeeded by | Scott Bennett |
Auditor of Champaign County | |
In office 2002–2007 | |
Preceded by | Gerrie Parr |
Succeeded by | Tony Fabri |
Personal details | |
Born |
Gifford, Illinois, U.S. | July 28, 1973
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater |
Yale University National Cheng Kung University |
Religion | Lutheranism |
Michael W. "Mike" Frerichs (born July 28, 1973) is the State Treasurer of Illinois, having taken office on January 12, 2015. Prior to being elected treasurer, he was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 52nd District since 2007. The East Central Illinois district, located in Champaign and Vermilion counties, includes all or parts of Champaign, Danville, Georgetown, Gifford, Rantoul, Thomasboro and Urbana.[1]
In the 98th General Assembly, Frerichs served as the chairman of the Higher Education committee[2] and had previously served as chairman of the Agriculture & Conservation and Enterprise Zone Extensions committees.[3][4]
Early life and career
Frerichs was born and raised in the small farming town of Gifford. Upon graduating from Rantoul Township High School, Frerichs attended Yale University and received his BA in 1995. He then attended National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan where he studied Mandarin Chinese while teaching English courses.[5] Upon returning home, Frerichs began to teach at his alma mater and became involved in the community, including, serving on his local volunteer fire department, on the board of a local non-profit nursing home, and as a member of the Urbana Rotary Club.
Champaign County official
In 1998, Frerichs ran against then-State Representative Tim Johnson and though he lost, it was the closest margin in Johnson’s political career.[6] In 2000 Frerichs was elected to the Champaign County Board and reelected in 2002.[7][8]
Later that year, Frerichs was appointed to succeed Gerrie Parr as the Champaign County Auditor by his fellow board members.[9] As Auditor he was responsible for preparing budget reports, maintaining financial records, ensuring the county meet state and federal reporting requirements, preventing fraud and improving the financial health of the county.[10] At the time, he was the only auditor in the state to become a Certified Public Finance Officer, a credential he continues to maintain.[2][5] Two years later, he was elected to the position.
Illinois State Senator
In 2005, Frerichs announced he would run for the 52nd Legislative District seat that includes most of Champaign County and Vermilion County to fill the vacancy caused by Rick Winkel’s retirement.[11] In what became the most expensive state senate race of 2006,[12] Senator Frerichs was elected over former Senator Judith Myers to the by a margin of approximately five hundred votes.[13][14] as the first Democratic State Senator to represent East Central Illinois since 1936.[15]
Frerichs served as Chairman of the Illinois State Senate's Committee on Higher Education[2] and was a past-chair of the Agriculture & Conservation and Enterprise Zone Extensions.[3][4] He also sat on the committees for Financial Institutions, Licensed Activities and Pensions, Public Pensions & State Investments and the Agriculture & Conservation.[2]
During his time in the Senate, Frerichs led efforts to eliminate the corrupt legislative scholarship program,[16] advocated for the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking,[17] and funded improvements at the University of Illinois, Parkland College and Danville Community College while fighting to reduce Illinois' disparities in education funding.[18] After Governor Rod Blagojevich was removed from office for corruption, Frerichs moved to have the former governor barred from ever holding office again in Illinois. This motion, like the vote to remove him, carried unanimously.[19]
Treasurer of Illinois
2014 election
Frerichs announced his intention to run for the vacated office of Treasurer of Illinois in early January of 2014, after incumbent Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford had announced his intention to run for Governor of Illinois. Frerichs ran uncontested in the Democratic Party primary and faced Illinois State Representative and former Illinois State House Minority Leader Tom Cross in the General Election on November 4.[20]
For more than two weeks after election day, the election was too close to call, but eventually Frerichs was declared the winner, defeating Cross 48.1% to 47.8%, as the election ended up being one of the closest in Illinois state history, being decided by only 9,225 votes out of more than 3.5 million ballots cast.[21][22][23]
Tenure
He was inaugurated on January 12, 2015 and is serving as the Treasurer of Illinois.[24]
Electoral history
2006 General Election Results – Illinois’s 52nd Senate District [14] | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Frerichs | 27,149 | 48.8 | |
Republican | Judith Myers | 26,607 | 47.8 | |
Socialist | Joseph Parnaraukis | 1,894 | 3.4 | |
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
2010 General Election Results- Illinois's 52nd Senate District [25] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Frerichs | 32,583 | 61.5 | |
Republican | Al Reynolds | 20,450 | 38.5 | |
Democratic hold | ||||
2012 General Election Results- Illinois's 52nd Senate District [26] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Frerichs | 48,493 | 64.8 | |
Republican | John Bambenek | 26,310 | 35.2 | |
Democratic hold | ||||
2014 General Election Results – Illinois’s State Treasurer[27] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Mike Frerichs | 1,694,884 | 48.05 | |
Republican | Tom Cross | 1,685,659 | 47.79 | |
Libertarian | Matt Skopek | 146,654 | 4.16 | |
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
- ↑ Veeneman, Drew. "Map of 52nd District" (PDF). precinctmaps.com. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- 1 2 3 4 "Senator Michael W. Frerichs". Illinois General Assembly Legislative Information Service. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- 1 2 "97th Agriculture and Conservation". Illinois General Assembly Legislative Information Service. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- 1 2 "97th Enterprise Zone Extensions". Illinois General Assembly Legislative Information Service. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- 1 2 "Biography". Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ "General Election – 11/3/1998 104th Representative". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ County Clerk Mark Shelden. "Official Results of Champaign County, Illinois General Election November 7, 2000 Final Summary" (PDF). Office of the Champaign County Clerk. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ County Clerk Mark V. Shelden. "Official Results of Champaign County, Illinois General Election November 5, 2002 Final Summary" (PDF). Office of the Champaign County Clerk. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ "County Board Meeting Minutes 19 December 2002" (PDF). Champaign County Recorder.
- ↑ "Office of the Champaign County Auditor – About the Office". Co.champaign.il.us. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ Monson, Mike. "Champaign County Auditor to seek seat". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ "Follow the Money - Illinois Senate 2006".
- ↑ http://illinoisissues-archive.uis.edu/briefly/leaders200701.html
- 1 2 "2006 General Election Results-Illinois's 52nd Senate District". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "Illinois Ag Connection Honors Mike Frerichs". Illinoisagconnection.com. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ McFarland, Shannon (2012-05-03). "Illinois Legislative Scholarships Ending? Senate Votes To End Controversial Program". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ Kacich, Tom. "State bills aim to control 'fracking' to extract natural gas". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ "About Mike". Friends of Frerichs. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ Quinn, Celeste. "Illinois Public Radio live coverage from the Illinois Senate, the impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich". Illinois Public Media, University of Illinois. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ "Tom Cross claims GOP nomination in race for state treasurer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune (19 November 2014). "Cross concedes defeat in treasurer race - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "Tom Cross concedes in treasurer's race, giving Frerichs win". Chicago. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "GENERAL ELECTION - 11/4/2014". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune (12 January 2015). "Madigan, White lead other statewide elected officials taking the oath - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "2010 General Election Results-Illinois's 52nd Senate District". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "2012 General Election Results- Illinois's 52nd Senate District". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "Illinois Secretary of States Official Results" (PDF). Elections.il.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
External links
- Mike Frerichs for Illinois Treasurer
- Senator Michael W. Frerichs (D) 52nd District at the Illinois General Assembly
- State Senator Mike Frerichs constituency website
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Dan Rutherford |
Treasurer of Illinois 2015–present |
Incumbent |
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