Thomas M. Bennett

{{Infobox officeholder

| name= Tom Bennett

|image = Thomas M. Bennett 2023.jpg

|caption = Bennett saying words of encouragement and support prior to the balloon launch of a high-altitude weather balloon

|state_senate = Illinois

|district = 53rd

|term_start = {{start date|2023|01|11}}

|term_end = {{end date|2025|01|8}}

|predecessor = Jason Barickman

|successor = Chris Balkema

| state_house2=Illinois

| state2=Illinois

| district2=106th

| term_start2 = {{start date|2015|01|14}}

| term_end2 = January 11, 2023

| preceded2=Josh Harms

| succeeded2=Jason Bunting

|office4 = Chair of the Parkland College
Board of Trustees

|district4 =

|term_start4 = {{start date|2012|04|18}}

|term_end4 = {{end date|2015|01|14}}

|predecessor4 = James L. Ayers

|successor4 = Dana Trimble

| birth_date= {{birth date and age|1956|6|8}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2012-03-12/q-106th-district-bennett.html|title = Q & A in 106th District: Bennett| date=12 March 2012 }}

| birth_place=Gibson City, Illinois, U.S.

|party = Republican

|otherparty =

|spouse =

|partner =

|relations = Scott M. Bennett (nephew)

|children =

| residence=Gibson City, Illinois

| alma_mater={{nowrap|Eastern Illinois University (BS)
Illinois State University (BS, MBA)
N.S.U. (D.B.A.)}}

|occupation =

|profession=IT Manager
High School Teacher (former)

|committees =

| religion=

|signature =

|signature_alt=

|website = [https://senatortombennett.com Senate website]

|footnotes =

|allegiance =

|branch =

|serviceyears =

|rank =

|unit =

}}

Thomas Michael Bennett (born June 8, 1956) is a former Republican member of the Illinois Senate from the 53rd district.{{cite news|last=Barichello|first=Derek|title=Tom Bennett Named Barickman Successor|date=January 7, 2023|access-date=January 7, 2023|newspaper=Shaw Local|url=https://www.shawlocal.com/mywebtimes/2023/01/07/tom-bennett-named-jason-barickmans-successor-in-illinois-senate/|url-access=subscription}} 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}}

Prior to his appointment to the Illinois Senate, Bennett represented the 106th district in the Illinois House of Representatives and was Chairman of the Parkland College Board of Trustees.

Early life and career

Bennett is a lifelong resident of Gibson City. He worked at State Farm for 30 years and was previously a teacher at Melvin-Sibley High School. Tom and his wife Kathy, a retired high school teacher, have two children and four grandchildren. His nephew, Scott M. Bennett, represented Champaign–Urbana.'A Life remembered: Sen. Scott M. Bennett made his native Gibson City proud,' Ford County Chronicle (Illinois), Will Brumleve, December 12, 2022 An elected member of the Parkland College Board of Trustees, Bennett became the board's chair taking over for James L. Ayers in April 2012. Bennett was succeeded in the role by Dana Trimble.{{Cite web |url=http://www.parkland.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/PDF/boardoftrustees/minutes041812.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-11-08 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064323/http://www.parkland.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/PDF/boardoftrustees/minutes041812.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.parkland.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/PDF/boardoftrustees/2015%20minutes%2001-21.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-09-29 |archive-date=2017-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812094732/http://www.parkland.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/PDF/boardoftrustees/2015%20minutes%2001-21.pdf |url-status=dead }} In 2016, he was selected as an elector from Illinois's 16th congressional district who would have been pledged to Donald Trump and Mike Pence had they won Illinois's 20 electoral votes.{{cite web|url=http://nprillinois.org/post/who-will-sit-electoral-college-illinois|publisher=nprillinois.org|title=Who Will Sit On The Electoral College From Illinois | NPR Illinois|date=23 August 2016|access-date=2016-10-20}}

Illinois House of Representatives

At the time, the 106th district included all or parts of Ford, Iroquois, Vermillion, Livingston and Woodford counties.{{Cite web |url=http://elections.il.gov/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/2011Districts/2011RepDist110.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-11-08 |archive-date=2017-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126030736/http://www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/2011Districts/2011RepDist110.pdf |url-status=dead }} During the 102nd General Assembly, Bennett was a member of the following Illinois House committees:{{Cite web |title=Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees |url=https://ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=2879 |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=ilga.gov}}

Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education Committee (HAPE)
Appropriations - Public Safety Committee (HAPP)
Child Care Access & Early Child Access Committee (HCEC)
Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies (HELM)
Law Enforcement Subcommittee (SHPF-LAWE)
Police & Fire Committee (SHPF)

On January 28, 2020, Governor J.B. Prizker appointed Bennett to serve as a member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission for a term ending June 30, 2022.{{cite letter|last=Pritzker|first=J.B.|recipient=Illinois Senate|subject=Appointment Message 1010456|date=February 4, 2021|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1010456&GAID=15&GA=101&DocTypeID=AM&LegID=123374&SessionID=108}} He was not confirmed during the 101st General Assembly and his appointment was carried over to the 102nd General Assembly for consideration.{{cite letter|last=Pritzker|first=J.B.|subject=Appointment Message 1010456|recipient=Illinois Senate|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1010456&GAID=15&DocTypeID=AM&LegId=123374&SessionID=108}}

Illinois Senate

After the resignation of Jason Barickman, Bennett was appointed to succeed Barickman as Senator from the 53rd district for the 103rd General Assembly. Bennett did not run for reelection in the 2024 general election.{{cite web | 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 | title=Grundy County Board chair to run for Illinois Senate in district that includes Bloomington-Normal | date=13 September 2023 }}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change|title= 2014 Illinois House of Representatives District 106 General Election{{cite web |title=Tom Bennett |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Thomas_M._Bennett_(Illinois)}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Illinois Republican Party

|candidate=Tom Bennett

|votes=26,349

|percentage=80.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party=Democratic Party of Illinois

|candidate=William Nutter

|votes=6516

|percentage=19.8}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 32865

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title= 2016 Illinois House of Representatives District 106 General Election{{cite web |title=Election Results 2016 General Election |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=bt7bri46n7I%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR9%2fm6JF8Ruz9kD4ufAF0Mq8%3d}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Illinois Republican Party

|candidate=Tom Bennett

|votes=41047

|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 32865

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title= 2018 Illinois House of Representatives District 106 General Election{{cite web |title=Tom Bennett |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Thomas_M._Bennett_(Illinois)}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Illinois Republican Party

|candidate=Tom Bennett

|votes=32952

|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 32952

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title= 2020 Illinois House of Representatives District 106 General Election{{cite web |title=Tom Bennett |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Thomas_M._Bennett_(Illinois)}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Illinois Republican Party

|candidate=Tom Bennett

|votes=45477

|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 45477

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title= 2022 Illinois House of Representatives District 106 General Election{{cite web |title=Tom Bennett |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Thomas_M._Bennett_(Illinois)}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Illinois Republican Party

|candidate=Tom Bennett

|votes=34652

|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 34652

| percentage = 100.0

}}