Jim Durkin
Encyclopedia
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.
in the primary. But he lost to Durbin in the general election, with 38%, or 1,302,000 votes, after being massively outspent.
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. Durkin continued his education at John Marshall Law School
in Chicago, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. Durkin was an assistant Attorney General and an assistant Cook County
State's 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, and then in 2007, Illinois co-chair and national legislative co-chair for McCain's second presidential campaign. Durkin is on the board of trustees at the John Marshall Law School, 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.
testified in front of the committee, but his testimony was called into question by a later Burris affidavit, in February 2009. Rep. Durkin was then quoted as saying "I can't believe anything that comes out of Mr. Burris at this point," and called for Sen. Burris' resignation. Rep. Durkin also called for a criminal perjury
investigation of Sen. Burris, and "scoffed at the notion that Mr. Burris had not been granted time to mention such relevant conversations or that lawmakers had moved on." The news report continued that "Republicans also questioned why it had taken Mr. Burris nearly a month to amend his testimony, and why lawmakers had not heard of the amendments until they were revealed on Saturday in The Chicago Sun-Times — more than a week after he sent them." Democrat Barbara Flynn Currie
, chair of the impeachment committee, was the recipient of the follow-up affidavit. Sen. Burris filed it February 5 or so with Currie, so she became one of the objects of Republican questions and criticism over the delayed release of the information.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, 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
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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, althoughly he says he is against both civil unions and marriage for gay couples in Illinois. Jim Durkin received the Republican nomination with 46%, or 371,000 votes, defeating multi-millionaires Jim Oberweis and John H. CoxJohn H. Cox
John Herman Cox is an American lawyer, accountant, businessman, broadcaster, and aspiring politician. He was the first Republican to seek formally the party's 2008 nomination for president, but effectively withdrew from the race in late 2007 and suspended his campaign shortly after.-Biography:Born...
in the primary. But he lost to Durbin in the general election, with 38%, or 1,302,000 votes, after being massively outspent.
Personal background
Jim Durkin was raised in the western Chicago suburb of WestchesterWestchester, Illinois
Westchester is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,824 at the 2000 census. The current Village President is Sam D...
and is a graduate of Divine Infant grade school and Fenwick High School. Jim attended Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in Bloomington-Normal and graduated in 1984 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Durkin continued his education at John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School may refer to:*John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois*John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia*Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio...
in Chicago, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. Durkin was an assistant Attorney General and an assistant Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
State's 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
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
's presidential campaign in Illinois, and then in 2007, Illinois co-chair and national legislative co-chair for McCain's second presidential campaign. Durkin is on the board of trustees at the John Marshall Law School, 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 election
- 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%
Gov. Blagojevich impeachment
Rep. Durkin served as ranking Republican on the Illinois House impeachment committee in December 2008-January 2009. Now-U.S. Senator Roland BurrisRoland Burris
Roland Wallace Burris is a former United States Senator from the state of Illinois and a member of the Democratic Party....
testified in front of the committee, but his testimony was called into question by a later Burris affidavit, in February 2009. Rep. Durkin was then quoted as saying "I can't believe anything that comes out of Mr. Burris at this point," and called for Sen. Burris' resignation. Rep. Durkin also called for a criminal perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
investigation of Sen. Burris, and "scoffed at the notion that Mr. Burris had not been granted time to mention such relevant conversations or that lawmakers had moved on." The news report continued that "Republicans also questioned why it had taken Mr. Burris nearly a month to amend his testimony, and why lawmakers had not heard of the amendments until they were revealed on Saturday in The Chicago Sun-Times — more than a week after he sent them." Democrat Barbara Flynn Currie
Barbara Flynn Currie
Barbara Flynn Currie is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 25th District since 1979.- Political career :...
, chair of the impeachment committee, was the recipient of the follow-up affidavit. Sen. Burris filed it February 5 or so with Currie, so she became one of the objects of Republican questions and criticism over the delayed release of the information.
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Representative Jim Durkin (R) 82nd District official IL House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative James B. 'Jim' Durkin (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Jim Durkin
- Illinois House Republican Caucus - Jim Durkin profile