Jim Durkin

Infobox_State_Representative


name=Jim Durkin


state_house=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=82nd
term=2006 -
preceded=Eileen Lyons
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|1961|01|28
place of birth=Westchester, Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Celeste
profession=attorney
religion=Roman Catholic
party=Republican|

Jim Durkin is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 82nd District since 2006 when he was sworn in to replace Eileen Lyons after she retired mid-term. He was elected on November 8, 2006, defeating Democrat Kim Savage. Durkin previously represented the 44th District from 1995 to 2002.

U.S. Senate campaign

In 2002, Jim Durkin ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent Dick Durbin. Durkin is considered to be a fiscal conservative, but a social moderate. [http://www.edwpub.com/intelligencer/election/profiles/durkin.htm Republican Durkin pushes conservative agenda] Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved August 8, 2007] Jim Durkin received the Republican nomination with 46%, or 371,000 votes, defeating multi-millioniares Jim Oberweis and John H. Cox in the primary, but lost to Durbin in the general election, with 38%, or 1,302,000 votes.

Personal background

Jim Durkin was raised in the western Chicago suburb of Westchester and is a graduate of Divine Infant grade school and Fenwick High School. Jim attended Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal and graduated in 1984 with a degree in Criminal Justice, Jim competed his formal education at John Marshall Law School where he received his Juris Doctor in 1989.Durkin was an assistant Attorney General and an assistant Cook County States Attorney where he served as a felony prosecutor and a special prosecutor in the narcotics unit. In 2000, Durkin was state chairman for U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign in Illinois. He is now the 2007 Illinois co-chair and national legislative co-chair for McCain's presidential election. Durkin is also on the board of trustees at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago,and on the board of trustees for Misercordia Home in Chicago. Durkin lives in the western suburbs of Cook County with his wife Celeste and their four daughters.

Electoral history

*2002 U.S. Senate race
** Dick Durbin (D) 60.3%
** Jim Durkin (R) 38%

*2006 Republican primary for State Rep. 82nd District
**Jim Durkin 78.4%
**William D. "Bill" Seith 21.6%

*2006 election for State Rep. 82nd District
**Jim Durkin (R) 65%
**Kim Savage (D) 35%

References

External links

* [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=1129 Illinois General Assembly - Representative Jim Durkin (R) 82nd District] official IL House website
** [http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepBills.asp?MemberID=1129 Bills] [http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=1129 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=6399 Project Vote Smart - Representative James B. 'Jim' Durkin (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Jim Durkin
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=417234 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200014&c=355277 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199814&c=354873 1998] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199614&c=354479 1996] campaign contributions
* [http://housegop.state.il.us/members/member.asp?c=31126 Illinois House Republican Caucus - Jim Durkin] profile