Mike Frerichs

Mike Frerichs
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 52nd district
In office 2007 -
Preceded by	Rick Winkel
Personal details
Born	July 28, 1973 (1973-07-28) (age 38) Gifford, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Laura Frerichs
Religion	Lutheran

Mike Frerichs is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 52nd District since 2007. His district includes the cities of Champaign, Urbana and portions of Danville.

Frerichs lives with his wife, Laura, in Champaign. Upon graduating from Rantoul Township High School, Frerichs attended Yale University and received his BA in 1995. Frerichs was a teacher from 1995 to 1997.

Frerichs ran against former State Representative Timothy V. Johnson, but lost. In 2000 Frerichs was elected to the Champaign County Board and reelected in 2002. He was appointed to Champaign County Auditor by the County Board in 2002 and was elected to that office in 2004.

In 2005, Frerichs announced he would run for the 52nd Legislative District seat that includes most of Champaign County and Vermilion County. In what eventually became the second most expensive legislative race in Illinois history,^{[citation needed]} Senator Frerichs was elected^[1] as the first Democratic State Senator to represent East Central Illinois since 1936.^{[citation needed]}

Senator Frerichs is noted as both the youngest and tallest State Senator in Illinois. At 35, he is one of the youngest elected leaders in Springfield today. And, at 6 feet, 8 inches,^[2] he is one of the tallest legislators in Illinois history. (Abraham Lincoln was only 6 feet, 4 inches tall.)

Senator Frerichs also serves on his local volunteer fire department, on the board of a local non-profit nursing home, and is a member of the Urbana Rotary Club.

After Governor Rod Blagojevich was removed from office by the State Senate, Frerichs moved to have the former governor barred from ever holding office again in Illinois. This motion, like the vote to convict and remove Blagojevich, carried unanimously.

References

1. ^ Illinois 52nd State Senate District
2. ^ Long hours, distances keep candidates busy as election nears

External links

• Mike Frerichs, Illinois Senate official website
• Mike Frerichs For State Senate official campaign website
• Illinois General Assembly - Senator Mike Frerichs (D) 52nd District official IL Senate website
  • Bills Committees
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Michael W. Frerichs (IL) profile
• Follow the Money - Mike Frerichs
  • 2006 campaign contributions
• Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Mike Frerichs profile

Persondata
Name	Frerichs, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1973-07-28
Place of birth	Gifford, Illinois
Date of death
Place of death