Chris Balkema
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Chris Balkema
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
| state_senate = Illinois
| district = 53rd
| term_start = January 8, 2025
| predecessor = Thomas M. Bennett
| term_end =
| successor =
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|40|2011|08|20}}
|party = Republican
|otherparty =
|spouse =
|partner =
|relations =
|children =
|residence = Channahon, Illinois
|alma_mater = Taylor University {{small|(BS)}}
Bradley University {{small|(MBA)}}
|occupation =
|profession =
|committees =
|signature =
|signature_alt=
|website = [https://chrisbalkema.com/ Official website]
|footnotes =
}}
Chris Balkema is an American politician and member of the Illinois Senate from the 53rd district. The 53rd district includes all or portions of Bureau, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell, Will, and Woodford counties in central Illinois.{{cite web|title=Maps of Districts of the Illinois Senate (2023-2033)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|page=53|date=July 16, 2022|url=https://archive.org/details/2022-senate-map-series-layout-637835410295173864|access-date=January 7, 2023}} Balkema was sworn into office on January 8, 2025.
Early life and education
He has a has a B.S. in business systems from Taylor University. He has since held advisory positions on the Taylor University Business Council. He later earned a M.B.A. from Bradley University.{{cite journal|editor-last=Barlow|editor-first=Sarah E.|title=Biographies of New Senate Members|journal=First Reading|volume=38|number=2|page=6|access-date=March 28, 2025|url=https://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/FirstReadingNov2024.pdf}} He was hired by Caterpillar in 1993 and has worked there ever since.{{cite news|last=Schelkopf|first=Eric|title=Balkema launches exploratory bid for 11th District seat|date=August 20, 2011|newspaper=Kane County Chronicle|via=NewsBank}}
Early political career
In 2009, he was elected to the board of Minooka Community High School District 111.{{cite news|last=Stadalsky|first=Kris|title=New school board members positive|newspaper=The Herald-News|date=May 9, 2009|page=A3|via=NewsBank}} In the 2010 general election, he was elected as part of a slate in District 2 that defeated two Democratic incumbents.{{cite news|last=Chapman|first=Christina|title=Local election brings changes to County Board|date=January 2, 2011|newspaper=Morris Herald-News|location=Morris, Illinois|via=NewsBank}} After David Welter's appointment to the Illinois House of Representatives, Balkema moved from Vice Chair of the Grundy County Board to Chairman.{{cite news|last=Ritz|first=Justin|title=David Welter Officially Resigns as Grundy County Board Chairman|date=July 14, 2016|newspaper=WSPY News|access-date=March 28, 2025|url-status=live|url=https://www.wspynews.com/news/local/david-welter-officially-resigns-as-grundy-county-boarde-chairman/article_1501e208-49e1-11e6-8d38-d3b54c5a2fe9.html|archive-date=March 28, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328194318/https://www.wspynews.com/news/local/david-welter-officially-resigns-as-grundy-county-boarde-chairman/article_1501e208-49e1-11e6-8d38-d3b54c5a2fe9.html}} He served as Grundy County Board Chairman 2016 until his election to the Illinois Senate. While chairman, he has served on the Grundy County Economic Development Council.
=Congressional campaigns=
After the 2011 decennial reapportionment, Balkema explored a candidacy for the open seat in Illinois's 11th congressional district for the 2012 election. He ultimately decided against running for Congress and instead ran for reelection to the county board.{{cite web|url=http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/2012/01/06/balkema-opts-against-running-for-11th-district-seat/aqk9mvi/|title=Balkema opts against running for 11th District seat|date=January 6, 2012|accessdate=January 7, 2012|work=Morris Daily Herald|first=Christina|last=Chapman|archive-date=January 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110011941/http://morrisdailyherald.com/2012/01/06/balkema-opts-against-running-for-11th-district-seat/aqk9mvi/|url-status=dead}} Two years later, Balkema ran in the Republican primary for the 11th district.{{cite news|last=Riopell|first=Mike|date=September 11, 2013|title=Balkema enters Republican primary race for Congress|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130910/news/709109813/|newspaper=Daily Herald|location=Arlington Heights, Illinois|access-date=December 29, 2013|url-access=subscription|archive-date=January 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123071708/https://www.dailyherald.com/20130910/news/balkema-enters-republican-primary-race-for-congress/}} He was defeated in by State Representative Darlene Senger by a narrow margin of three points.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/VoteTotals/2014GPOfficialVote.pdf|title=Official Illinois State Board of Elections Results|access-date=2014-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021140211/http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/VoteTotals/2014GPOfficialVote.pdf|archive-date=2014-10-21|url-status=dead}}
Illinois Senate
In 2023, Republican appointed incumbent Tom Bennett announced he would not run in the 2024 special election to fill the remainder Jason Barickman's term. Balkema ran for the Republican nomination for the seat alongside Susan Wynn Bence, Bennett's chief of staff, Mike Kirkton, a member of the Livingston County Board, and Jesse Faber.{{cite news|last=Dedo|first=Eric|title=Grundy County Board chair to run for Illinois Senate in district that includes Bloomington-Normal|date=September 13, 2023|newspaper=NPR Illinois|access-date=October 12, 2023|url=https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-09-13/grundy-county-board-chair-chris-balkema-runs-for-illinois-senate-in-district-that-includes-bloomington-normal}} Balekma won the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election. In the 104th General Assembly, Balkema is the minority spokesperson for the Appropriations - Education committee. He is also assigned to the other following committees: Agriculture; Behavioral and Mental Health; Education; Labor; Pensions; and Revenue.{{cite web|title=Senator Chris Balkema (R) 53rd District|access-date=March 28, 2025|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|url=https://ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=104&MemberID=3413}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Illinois State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balkema, Chris}}
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American politicians
Category:Republican Party Illinois state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly
Category:Taylor University alumni
Category:Bradley University alumni
Category:Caterpillar Inc. people
Category:People from Grundy County, Illinois
{{Illinois-politician-stub}}