Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography

Years served: 2015 - 2023 (House) 2023 - Present (Senate)

Committee assignments: Approp Ed (Minority Spokesperson); Early Childhood Education; Education; Energy and Public Utilities; Higher Education; Approp- Higher Education.

Biography: Senator Bennett represents the 53rd District of Illinois, including Bureau, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Putnam, Tazewell, Will, and Woodford Counties. From 2015 to early 2023, Bennett served as the State Representative for the 106th District. Raised on a family farm, Senator Bennett has served as a high school and junior high science teacher and IT professional at State Farm Insurance. While working and raising a family, Senator Bennett served as a K-12 school board member, member of the local pre-school board and chairman for two years. He was a member of the Parkland College Board of Trustees, including three years as chairman. As a legislator, Senator Bennett has served on task forces and commissions focused on early childhood, teacher assessments, environment and energy. Active in state and national trustee organizations, Senator Bennett is a Past Chair of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) in Springfield and Past Chair of the Board of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) in Washington, D.C. Senator Bennett holds a BS in Education from Eastern Illinois University, a BS in Computer Science, an MBA from Illinois State University and a Doctorate of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Awards include: 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Friend of Agriculture, Illinois Farm Bureau; 2018 Legislator of the Year, Illinois Association of Agricultural Fair; 2018, 2020 and 2022 Illinois Chamber Champion of Free Enterprise; 2024 Illinois Firefighters Public Service Award; Tom and his wife, Kathy, reside in Gibson City. They have two grown children and five grandchildren.

Associated Representative(s):	Dennis Tipsword, Jr.
	Jason Bunting

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