Rickey R. Hendon

Infobox_State_Senator


imagesize = 150px
name=Rickey R. Hendon


state_senate=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=5th
term=1992 -
preceded=
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|1953|12|08
place of birth=Cleveland, Ohio
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Dawn Hendon
profession=
religion=Baptist
party=Democratic|

Rickey R. Hendon (born December 8, 1953) is the Illinois State Senator for the 5th district, which he has served since 1992. Hendon gained the nickname, "Hollywood" for his style and bravado. [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-senate05_31jan31,1,1482042.story 2 challenge Rickey Hendon in Illinois Senate 5th District - Laws, Garfield Park, Emil Jones - chicagotribune.com ] ]

Public service

Before running for the state senate, Hendon was alderman of the 27th ward in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to that, he was Secretary/Treasurer for the Cook County Forest Preserve.

Senate career

Hendon has been an Illinois State Senator since 1992. He currently serves as an Assistant Majority Leader, Co-Chairman of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Environment and Energy Committee and a member of the Labor and Commerce Committee and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

Recently , Hendon sponsored legislation that would create a pilot program in the Chicago Public School that allows the Chicago Board of Education to establish a program to discourage criminal behavior by providing prison tours.

Because of his interest in health care, Hendon sponsored a bill designed to assist low-income families on Medicaid, by restricting the co-payment for brand name drugs to $3 and eliminating co-pay for generic drugs.

Another recent bill Hendon sponsored was aimed at expanding opportunities for minority owned businesses to compete and ultimately bring additional film projects and television studios to Illinois.

An October 9, 2008 story in The Washington Post told of substantial tension between Hendon and then colleague Barack Obama, culminating in a physical confrontation in June 2008. Hendon now supports Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Education

In 1993, Hendon urged other Senators to support a proposal (Senate Bill 779, 88th ILGA) in the Illinois Senate to eliminate material in schools that "expressly counsels for suicide." Opponents, including Judy Baar Topinka, said it could have been applied to literature that are considered an appropriate part of a schools curriculum, such as "Romeo and Juliet" and "It's a Wonderful Life." [ [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/transcripts/strans88/ST042393.pdf Illinois Senate, 88 GA] . Senate Bill 779, 88th ILGA. April 23, 1993.] [ [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2006/10/would_you_could.html Would you, could you twist a fact?] By Eric Zorn Friday, October 20, 2006 "Chicago Tribune"] [ [http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1006ESQ100_208_2 A National Knife Fight] by Joshua Green, Oct 2006 "Esquire"] ]

Personal life

Hendon was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife, Dawn, have five children. They attend Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. Hendon is leader of the Senate softball team. In 1992 he wrote and starred in the film "Butterscotch and Chocolate."Fact|date=August 2008

References

External links

* [http://rickeyhendon.com/ Senator Rickey Hendon] official website
* [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1215 Illinois General Assembly - Senator Rickey R. Hendon (D) 5th District] official IL House website
** [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenatorBills.asp?MemberID=1215 Bills] [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=1215 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS024370 Project Vote Smart - Senator Rickey R. Hendon (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Rickey R Hendon
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=419749 2006] , [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200414&c=395892 2004] , [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200214&c=25267 2002] , [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200014&c=355327 2000] , [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199814&c=354920 1998] , [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199614&c=354526 1996] campaign contributions
* [http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/page_display.asp?PID=19 Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Rickey R. Hendon] profile