Terry Link
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Terry Link
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|birth_date ={{birth date and age|1947|03|20}}
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|state_senate = Illinois
|district = 30th
|term_start = {{start date|1997|01}}
|term_end = {{end date|2020|09}}
|predecessor = David N. Barkhausen
|successor = Adriane Johnson
|party = Democratic
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|residence = Waukegan, Illinois
|alma_mater = University of Wisconsin–Stout
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Terry Link (born March 20, 1947) is an American politician who represented the 30th district in the Illinois Senate from 1997 until his resignation in 2020. The 30th district includes all or part of the municipalities of Beach Park, Buffalo Grove, Green Oaks, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, North Chicago, Riverwoods, Wheeling, Vernon Hills and Waukegan.{{cite web
|url=http://ilhousedems.com/redistricting/2011-maps/Legislative_Districts_Public_Act/LD30.pdf|author=|title=PA 97-0006 Legislative District 30|date=May 18, 2011|publisher=Illinois House of Representatives|location=Springfield, Illinois|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}
Link was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of Waukegan, Illinois in 2012.{{cite web|author=Lissau, Russell|title=State Sen. Terry Link to run for Waukegan mayor|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121120/news/711209777/|accessdate=2013-01-24|publisher=Daily Herald}} In 2020, Link pleaded guilty to tax evasion and resigned from his seat in the Senate.{{cite web| url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-senator-terry-link-federal-tax-charge-arraignment-20200916-r5xjwwopvvg37a7ugevg7a7hne-story.html| title = Former state Sen. Terry Link pleads guilty to tax evasion charge in federal court - Chicago Tribune}} For the same reason, he also resigned from his position as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Lake County.{{cite web|title=Our History in Lake County|url=http://lakecountydemocrats.com/about/|accessdate=2013-01-24|publisher=Lake County Democratic Central Committee}}
Early life and education
A lifelong resident of the Waukegan-North Chicago area, Link attended North Chicago Community High School. After graduating, he attended Stout State University (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout).{{cite web|url=http://link4mayor.com/about/|title=About Terry Link|publisher=Terry Link for Mayor|accessdate=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123081103/http://link4mayor.com/about/|archivedate=2013-01-23}}
Career
After college, Link began to pursue his career in business as a partner at Major Industrial Trucking. He later worked for Johnson Controls in their governmental affairs division. He later served in both the Illinois State Treasurer's office and Illinois Secretary of State's office.{{cite web|url=http://www.senatorlink.com/index.php/biography|title=Biography|publisher=Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus|accessdate=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024061854/http://www.senatorlink.com/index.php/biography|archivedate=2014-10-24}}
In 1992, Link was elected Chairman of the Democratic Party of Lake County by his fellow Democratic precinct committeemen.
Link ran for the Illinois Senate to serve the 30th district in 90th General Assembly. In an upset, Link defeated Thomas Lachner, a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, to succeed retiring Republican David Barkhausen.{{cite journal|last=Wheeler III|first=Charles N.|title=Michael Madigan will be the longest-serving speaker|volume=21|issue=12|journal=Illinois Issues|publisher=University of Illinois Springfield|page=42|access-date=August 13, 2021|url=https://www.lib.niu.edu/1996/ii961242.html}}
As a senator, Link supported legislation to aid those on fixed incomes, to cap large tax increases statewide.{{cite web|url=http://www.senatorlink.com/index.php/legislative-accomplishments|title=Legislative Accomplishments|publisher=Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus|accessdate=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025071625/http://www.senatorlink.com/index.php/legislative-accomplishments|archivedate=2014-10-25}} He also supported a tax credit to encourage businesses to hire honorably discharged veterans, a consumer protection measure requiring automotive manufacturers to eliminate mercury switches from existing vehicles and served as the lead sponsor on the Wetland Protection Act and Smoke Free Illinois.
Link advised then-State Senator Barack Obama to not run against Bobby Rush in the 2000 primary for Illinois's 1st congressional district.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html |publisher=The New York Times |date=2007-09-09 |access-date=2024-08-23 |last=Scott |first=Janny |title=In 2000, a Streetwise Veteran Schooled a Bold Young Obama}}
In the 97th General Assembly, Link served as the Chairperson of the Gaming Committee and Vice Chairperson of Financial Institutions, Local Government and State Government & Veterans Affairs committees respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1645|title=Senator Biography|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|accessdate=2013-01-24}}
Link resigned in September 2020. Local Democratic leaders appointed Adriane Johnson, a Commissioner for the Buffalo Grove Park District, to fill the remainder of his term.{{cite news|author=DeGrechie|first=Eric|title=Johnson Replaces Link, Becomes 1st Black Senator From Lake County|date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=Buffalo Grove Patch|accessdate=December 2, 2020|url=https://patch.com/illinois/buffalogrove/johnson-replaces-link-becomes-1st-black-senator-lake-county}}
=2013 mayoral election=
Link ran in the Democratic primary for Waukegan Mayor in 2013. He received endorsements from, among others, the Waukegan Police Benevolent Labor Committee{{cite web|url=http://link4mayor.com/policemens-benevolent-protective-association-labor-committee-endoresement/|title=Endoresement: Policemen's Benevolent & Protective Association|publisher=Terry Link for Mayor|accessdate=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123115025/http://link4mayor.com/policemens-benevolent-protective-association-labor-committee-endoresement/|archivedate=2013-01-23}} and Lake County Board Commissioner Diane Hewitt.{{cite web|url=http://link4mayor.com/diane-hewitt-endorsement|title=Diane Hewitt Endorsement|publisher=Terry Link for Mayor|accessdate=2013-01-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123115018/http://link4mayor.com/diane-hewitt-endorsement/|archivedate=2013-01-23}} Link came in last place in the primary, behind Waukegan City Clerk Wayne Motley and Alderman Sam Cunningham.
=Income tax evasion allegation=
In August 2020, Link was charged with one count of income tax evasion. Link later resigned from his position on the Illinois General Assembly Legislative Ethics Commission. A criminal information file asserted that Link had significantly underreported his 2016 income, which included his salary as a state legislator and payment for lobbying work.{{Cite web|last=Meisner|first=Jason|title=State Sen. Terry Link charged with federal income tax evasion|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-senator-terry-link-charged-tax-evasion-20200813-u3drrbwrdzhkbafnw47kun3iru-story.html|access-date=2020-08-14|website=chicagotribune.com}}
Personal life
References
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External links
- [http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1870?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
- By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1870 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1645 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1431 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1221 95th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=94&MemberID=996 94th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=93&MemberID=737 93rd]
- [http://www.senatorlink.com/ State Senator Terry Link] constituency site
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130124151048/http://link4mayor.com/ Terry Link for State Senator]
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=9519 | fec= | congress= }}
{{Illinois State Senate}}
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Category:Illinois state senators
Category:People from Waukegan, Illinois
Category:University of Wisconsin–Stout alumni
Category:Illinois politicians convicted of crimes
Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly