David Luechtefeld

Luechtefeld was born November 8, 1940, in Lively Grove, Illinois. He graduated high school from Okawville High School in 1958 and earned his bachelor's degree from St. Louis University in 1962. He taught and coached basketball at Okawville High School until he retired in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2102|author=|title=Senator David S. Luechtefeld (R) - 58th District - Assistant Republican Leader|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|date=2015-01-15|accessdate=2015-07-07}}

In September 1995, Luechtefeld was appointed state senator for the 58th district to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of 81-year-old Senator Ralph A. Dunn, who resigned to take care of his wife while taking a position with the Illinois State Treasurer's office.{{cite web|url=http://thesouthern.com/news/local/sen-luechtefeld-not-seeking-re-election-in/article_84bd2778-7e7d-5d1e-ac4d-be61e5a7d35b.html|author=Parker, Molly|title=Sen. Luechtefeld not seeking re-election in 2016|publisher=The Southern|date=2015-06-03|accessdate=2015-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1998/ii980141.html|author=Gauen, Patrick E.|title=A View from Metro East: There will be a rematch of the most expensive legislative contest|journal=Illinois Issues|publisher=University of Illinois at Springfield|date=2015-06-03|accessdate=2015-07-07}} The 58th district included all or portions of St. Clair, Monroe, Washington, Randolph, Jackson and Union counties in Downstate Illinois.{{cite web|url= http://www.lib.niu.edu/1992/ii921110.html|author=Wheeler III, Charles N|title=Redistricting '91: the World Series of Illinois politics|publisher=Northern Illinois University Libraries|journal=Illinois Issues|date=1992-11-30|accessdate=2014-02-17}}

In 1996, Luechtefeld ran against SIU political science professor Barb Brown in what became the most expensive and closest state legislative race of the entire cycle with Brown down by only 127 votes. Controversially, on election night, Monroe County election judges failed to initial approximately 500 ballots. Brown asked for a recount. By state law the decision was left in the hands of the Illinois Senate. The Republican majority Senate seated Luechtefeld. In 1998, Brown ran against Luechtefeld again, but lost by a larger margin.{{cite web|url=http://elections.il.gov/ElectionResultsStateSenate.aspx?ID=11|author=|title=Election Results - General Election (11/3/1998)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|journal=|date=|accessdate=2015-08-29}} Since then, Luechtefeld has never received less than 60% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://elections.il.gov/ElectionResultsStateSenate.aspx?ID=13|author=|title=Election Results - General Election (11/5/2002)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|journal=|date=|accessdate=2015-08-29}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.il.gov/ElectionResultsStateSenate.aspx?ID=19|author=|title=Election Results - General Election (11/7/2006)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|journal=|date=|accessdate=2015-08-29}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.il.gov/ElectionResultsStateSenate.aspx?ID=29|author=|title=Election Results - General Election (11/2/2010)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|journal=|date=|accessdate=2015-08-29}}{{cite web|url=http://elections.il.gov/ElectionResultsStateSenate.aspx?ID=33|author=|title=Election Results - General Election (11/6/2012)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|journal=|date=|accessdate=2015-08-29}}

His committee assignments at one point included Agriculture, Education, Executive, Financial Institutions, and Higher Education. He served as the minority spokesperson on the Education and Higher Education committees. He was also a member of the Subcommittee on Election Law. In June 2015, Senator Luechtefeld announced his retirement after twenty years in Springfield.

On March 6, 2017, Bruce Rauner appointed Luechtefeld to the Illinois Civil Service Commission for a term expiring March 1, 2023.{{cite web|last=Rauner|first=Bruce|title=Appointment Message 1000125 David Luechtefeld|date=March 7, 2017|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|accessdate=April 21, 2020|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1000125&GAID=14&DocTypeID=AM&LegId=106306&SessionID=91&GA=100}} The Commission is tasked to review and approve rule changes to the Illinois Personnel Code, position classifications, and pay plans proposed by Department of Central Management Services, which administers state's merit employment system. It also acts as an impartial review board for employees who appeal department decisions.{{cite web|last=Gruber|first=Amanda|title=Publication 425: State Board and Commission Descriptions|work=Expiration and Vacancy Report for the Governor of Illinois|publisher=Illinois Legislative Research Unit|date=August 1, 2018|accessdate=December 12, 2018|page=80|url=http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/Descriptions.pdf}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1871?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
• By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2102 99th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1871 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1646 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1432 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1222 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=997 94th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=93&MemberID=738 93rd]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930214316/http://www.luechtefeld.senategop.org/ State Senator David Luechtefeld] constituency site
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=6256 | fec= | congress= }}

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Category:1940 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Washington County, Illinois

Category:Republican Party Illinois state senators

Category:Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni

Category:Saint Louis University alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly