Preceded by Laura Kent Donahue Residence Rushville, Illinois Political party Democratic Alma mater Quincy University | Spouse(s) Joan Sullivan Name John Sullivan Children Four | |
Born January 9, 1959 (age 65)
Macomb, Illinois ( 1959-01-09 ) | ||
Sgt john m sullivan entire funeral processional
John M. Sullivan (born January 9, 1959) is the state senator for the 47th District of Illinois serving since 2003. The western Illinois district, the largest in the state includes all of Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, Henderson, Mason, McDonough, Schuyler, Warren counties and portions of Fulton and Knox counties.
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Early life and career
John Sullivan was born in Macomb. In 1959, he graduated from Quincy University with a bachelor's degree in history. He went on to work as an agricultural loan officer before joining Sullivan's Auctioneers, the family's successful auction and real estate business. He currently lives on a farm north of Rushville on the family farm with wife, three sons and one daughter.
State senator
Sullivan was elected in 2002, defeating 22-year incumbent Republican Laura Kent Donahue in one of the closest and most expensive senate races that election cycle. Since he represented a historically Republican district, Sullivan was targeted for defeat by the Republicans in the 2004 election. However, he defeated Republican Tom Ernst with 61 percent of the vote. In March 2006 Illinois's 17th congressional district's congressman, Lane Evans, announced he would be retiring at the end of his 12th term shortly after he won the nomination for a thirteenth term. Sullivan, whose district was largely coextensive with the west-central portion of the congressional district, entered the special nominating election finishing second to a longtime aide of Evans, Phil Hare. Sullivan was unopposed for reelection in 2008. In 2012, Sullivan handily defeated Randy Frese.
Senator Sullivan is currently the Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Conservation committee and is assigned to five other committees; Energy, Higher Education, Revenue, Transportation and Insurance. Senator Sullivan currently serves a Majority Whip.
Proving just how Republican Sullivan's district is at most levels, for his entire tenure his associated Representatives in Districts 93 and 94 were both Republicans. In Illinois, state house districts are formed by dividing senate districts in half. This gives Senator Sullivan the distinction of being the only State Senator to have two associated Representatives from the opposite party.
On June 19, 2015, he announced that he would be retiring from the Illinois Senate at the end of his term in 2017. Underlining the Republican bent of his district, Republican Jil Tracy, who formerly represented District 93—the western portion of the Senate district—won the seat unopposed.