Tim Bivins

Bivins previously served as sheriff of Lee County, Illinois, which includes Dixon. He was elected sheriff in 1986 succeeding fellow Republican Raymond Edward Nehring as Sheriff.{{cite book|title=Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986|chapter=Counties|page=377|access-date=June 17, 2021|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/35403}} He served until 2006, retiring as Lee County's longest serving sheriff.{{cite news|last=Osborn|first=Malinda|title=Longest-serving sheriff retires|newspaper=Sauk Valley News|url=http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2006/12/01/news/local/304498025899848.txt|date=December 1, 2006|archive-date=February 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210174338/http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2006/12/01/news/local/304498025899848.txt}} He served on security details for President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H. Bush, Vice President Dan Quayle, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Governor Jim Edgar, Governor Jim Thompson, Governor George Ryan, and United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald. During his tenure as Sheriff, Tim served as President of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. Speaker Hastert named him to the Department of Justice Medal of Valor Review Board, an advisory group to President George Bush. Tim also served on the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, having been appointed by then-Governor Jim Edgar.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On October 6, 2007, Republican incumbent Todd Sieben announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2008 general election.{{cite news|last=Chambers|first=Aaron|title='Thoughtful' Sieben to retire from state Senate|date=October 7, 2007|newspaper=Rockford Register Star|access-date=June 17, 2021|url=https://www.rrstar.com/article/20071007/NEWS/310079936}} After Bivins filed to run in the Republican primary, Sieben resigned from the Illinois Senate effective March 6, 2008. The next day, local Republican leaders appointed Bivins to the vacancy created in the 45th Legislative District.{{cite journal|editor-last=Shipley|editor-first=Deborah (Secretary of the Senate)|title=95th General Assembly 135th Legislative Day|volume=95|issue=135|journal=Journal of the Illinois Senate|date=March 11, 2008|pages=55–58|publisher=Illinois Senate|access-date=June 17, 2021|url=https://ilga.gov/Senate/journals/95/2008/SJ095135R.pdf}} Upon his swearing in, Minority Leader Frank Watson assigned Bivins to the following committees: Agriculture and Conservation, Licensed Activities, Commerce and Economic Development, State Government and Veterans Affairs. Bivins was named the Minority Spokesperson for the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs.{{cite journal|editor-last=Shipley|editor-first=Deborah (Secretary of the Senate)|title=Communications from the Minority Leader|journal=Journal of the Illinois Senate|volume=95|issue=135|pages=52–53|access-date=June 17, 2021|url=https://ilga.gov/Senate/journals/95/2008/SJ095135R.pdf}}

Four of five bills sponsored by Senator Bivins in his first legislative session – covering ethics, local schools, county jails and law enforcement – were passed by lawmakers. The 45th District Senator also finished the fiscal year with money to spare in his legislative account – which he returned to the state’s coffers. During the fall of 2008, he sponsored a number of public hearings in northwestern Illinois about the closing of state parks and historic sites by former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Bivins served as an Illinois Co-Chair for the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Ted Cruz.{{cite press release|last1=Tyler|first1=Rick|last2=Frazier|first2=Catherine|date=January 7, 2016|title=Cruz For President Announces Illinois Leadership Team|location=Houston, Texas|publisher=Cruz for President|access-date=June 17, 2021|url=http://www.p2016.org/cruz/cruz010716pril.html|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126153501/http://www.p2016.org/cruz/cruz010716pril.html}}

On June 12, 2017, Bivins announced he would not seek another term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wifr.com/content/news/State-Senator-Tim-Bivins-will-not-seek-another-term--428041133.html|title = State Senator Tim Bivins will not seek another term}} Brian Stewart was elected on November 6, 2018, to Bivins' seat representing the 45th district of the state of Illinois. Stewart took office on December 5, 2018.{{cite web|editor-last=Moon|editor-first=Audrey|title=2 state lawmakers take oath to serve northwestern Illinois|date=December 5, 2018|publisher=Quincy Media via WREX|location=Rockford, Illinois|url=https://wrex.com/category/2018/12/05/2-state-lawmakers-take-oath-to-serve-northwestern-illinois/}}

Bivins and his wife, Terri, have two children.{{cite web |title=Senate Member Details |url=https://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1948?tab=1&chamber=S |website=my.ilga.gov |access-date=13 October 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1948?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the Illinois General Assembly
• By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1948 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1737 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1533 96th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=95&MemberID=1353 95th]
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=101706 | fec= | congress= }}

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Category:1951 births

Category:Living people

Category:Illinois sheriffs

Category:People from Dixon, Illinois

Category:Republican Party Illinois state senators

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