Will Guzzardi

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Will Guzzardi

| image = Rep. Will Guzzardi with clipboard.jpg

| state_house = Illinois

| district = 39th

| term_start = January 14, 2015

| term_end =

| predecessor = Maria Antonia Berrios

| successor =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = Brown University (BA)

}}

Will Guzzardi is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives who represents the 39th District. The 39th District includes parts of the Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Old Irving Park, Portage Park and Logan Square.[http://elections.il.gov/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/2011Districts/2011RepDist39.pdf Illinois Representative District 39] Guzzardi is a co-chair of the Illinois House's Progressive Caucus.

Early life, education, and career

Guzzardi was born in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@scottjauch/profiles-in-citizenship-ii-illinois-state-rep-will-guzzardi-b9d4a46b03ec|title=Profiles In Citizenship II: Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi|last=Jauch|first=Scott|date=2019-08-01|website=Medium|language=en|access-date=2020-01-04}} He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, before attending Brown University for college, where he graduated with a comparative literature degree.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/October-2011/Will-Guzzardi-Versus-Toni-Berrios-for-State-Representative-in-the-39th-District/|title=Will Guzzardi: 24, Ivy League-Educated, and Running Against Joe Berrios's Daughter|work=Chicago magazine}}

He moved to Chicago in 2009 and worked as an associate editor for the Chicago branch of the Huffington Post. He later worked as the head writer for the University of Chicago Office of College Admissions.{{cite web |title=Representative Will Guzzardi (D), 39th District |url=http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=2662 |work=Illinois General Assembly}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130829/logan-square/will-guzzardi-announces-that-he-will-challenge-berrios-again/|title=Will Guzzardi Announces That He Will Challenge Berrios Again|work=DNAInfo Chicago|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=2020-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104003947/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130829/logan-square/will-guzzardi-announces-that-he-will-challenge-berrios-again/|url-status=dead}}

Campaigns

In 2012, Guzzardi ran for the Illinois House of Representatives, but lost by 125 votes{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/guzzardi-concedes-to-berrios/1955547/|title=Guzzardi Concedes to Berrios|website=NBC Chicago|date=May 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04}} to the incumbent Maria Antonia Berrios, daughter of then Cook Country Democratic Party Chairman, Joseph Berrios. Berrios had the support of the Chicago Democratic establishment behind her, including endorsements from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle as well as Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

In 2014, Guzzardi again ran for the seat in one of the most-followed races in the city that year with the support of progressive groups like the Chicago Teachers Union and other progressive elected officials. Ultimately, Guzzardi defeated Berrios by a 20% margin.{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140318/logan-square/northwest-side-state-rep-race-biggest-race-city-of-chicago/|title=Guzzardi Beats Berrios in Northwest Side State Rep. Race|work=DNAInfo Chicago|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=2020-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104004242/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140318/logan-square/northwest-side-state-rep-race-biggest-race-city-of-chicago/|url-status=dead}}

Guzzardi's campaigns have focused on issues of social and economic inequality, and opposition to Chicago's machine politics.{{cite web|url=http://logansquarist.com/2014/02/05/qa-will-guzzardi/|title=Q&A with Will Guzzardi|author=Erin Hegarty|work=LoganSquarist}}{{cite web|url=http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2012/03/09/out-of-turn-the-story-of-the-will-guzzardi-campaign/|title=Out of Turn: The Story of the Will Guzzardi Campaign|work=gapersblock.com}}

Illinois General Assembly

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Guzzardi 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=2884 |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=ilga.gov}}

Criminal Administration and Enforcement Subcommittee (HJUC-CAES)
Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT Committee (HCDA)
Firearms and Firearm Safety Subcommittee (HJUC-FIRE)
(Chairman of) Housing Committee (SHOU)
Judiciary - Criminal Committee (HJUC)
Juvenile Justice and System-Involved Youth Subcommittee (HJUC-JJSI)
(Chairman of) Prescription Drug Affordability (HPDA)
Sentencing, Penalties and Criminal Procedure Subcommittee (HJUC-SPCP)
Sex Offenses and Sex Offender Registration Subcommittee

= Tenure =

As State Representative, Guzzardi has focused on issues pertaining to labor rights, progressive causes, and assistance for working families.

Some of his enacted bills include:

SB1 - Raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Illinois{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-illinois-legislature-jb-pritzker-minimum-wage-20190214-story.html|title=Illinois House votes to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2025; Gov. J.B. Pritzker expected to sign it|work=Chicago Tribune|date=14 February 2019 }}
SB667 - A measure that caps the cost of insulin co-payments for insurance plans for 260,000 Illinoisans at $100 per month{{cite web|url=https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/gov-j-b-pritzker-says-he-ll-sign-insulin-price/article_16132fc8-6942-58be-b304-97ffeb5b6f90.html|title=Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he'll sign insulin price cap approved by Illinois legislature|work=Herald&Review}}
SB1351 - A student loan bill of rights to protect individuals with student loan debt from predatory lending practices{{cite web|url=https://www.nprillinois.org/post/student-loan-borrowers-protected-new-illinois-law#stream/0|title=Student Loan Borrowers Protected By New Illinois Law|work=NPR Illinois|date=8 November 2017 }}
HB303 - A law that reforms civic asset forfeitures practices by Illinois law enforcement to ensure Illinoisan's property is not taken unjustly{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/4/9/18364170/illinois-moves-to-rein-in-property-confiscation-laws|title=Illinois moves to rein in property confiscation laws|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=10 April 2017 }}
SB2746 - A law that eliminates the “tampon tax” on feminine hygiene products. Previously, these products were subjected to being taxed as luxuries instead of medical essentials.{{cite web|url=https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/illinois-legislature-approves-eliminating-tampon-tax|title= Illinois Legislature Approves Eliminating Tampon Tax|work=Illinois Public Radio|date= 27 May 2016}}
SB3762 - A law that eliminates the Death Penalty for Sentencing Treason in Illinois. Effective 1/1/2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/103/HB/PDF/10300HB3762lv.pdf}}

In 2018, J. B. Pritzker appointed Guzzardi a member of the gubernatorial transition's Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Pritzker transition announces Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee|date=December 3, 2018|newspaper=Capitol Fax|access-date=December 9, 2018|url=https://capitolfax.com/2018/12/03/pritzker-transition-announces-job-creation-and-economic-opportunity-committee/}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District Democratic Primary, 2012{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=SNr%2bqcRVQhc%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMZdggWwiK022jqUoC73M0kw%3d|title=Election Results 2012 GENERAL PRIMARY|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios

| votes = 4021

| percentage = 50.79

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi

| votes = 3896

| percentage = 49.21

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 7917

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District Democratic Primary, 2014{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=XKALWXDAS04%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMZdggWwiK022jqUoC73M0kw%3d|title=Election Results 2014 GENERAL PRIMARY|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi

| votes = 5316

| percentage = 60.41

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios (incumbent)

| votes = 3484

| percentage = 39.59

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8800

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2014{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=z%2fR%2feACUG%2bY%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMZdggWwiK022jqUoC73M0kw%3d|title=Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi

| votes = 14644

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 14644

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2016{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=MdSiWa1xQus%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMZdggWwiK022jqUoC73M0kw%3d|title=Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi (incumbent)

| votes = 29170

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 29170

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=JVM3BFfJbYc%3d&OfficeType=Mzn1hIdK%2bXutYfUM2d1xMZdggWwiK022jqUoC73M0kw%3d|title=Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=January 23, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi (incumbent)

| votes = 26106

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 26106

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2020{{cite web|url=https://elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=prSXs26mKQc%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FRwfnukmFiAy%2bbw26pdUB0bw%3d|title=Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|access-date=March 10, 2024}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi (incumbent)

| votes = 33816

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 33816

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 39th Representative District General Election, 2022{{Cite web|url=https://elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx?ID=MVJQPFIDZQo%3d&OfficeType=TPsWaFcg2f%2bZHFrYI%2b6FR2Cfb7mGVsUhY5%2f8M4vtZyk%3d|title=Election Results 2022 GENERAL ELECTION|access-date=2024-03-10|website=Illinois State Board of Elections|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Will Guzzardi (incumbent)

| votes = 21918

| percentage = 85.75

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Illinois Republican Party

| candidate = Anthony Curran

| votes = 3642

| percentage = 14.25