• A lifelong resident of Hinsdale, Kirk Dillard graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 1973. He earned, with honors, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Western Illinois University and a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law. He is partner with Lord, Bissell & Brook, one of Chicago’s largest law firms. He and his wife Stephanie recently welcomed their first child, daughter Emma. 

Kirk Dillard had represented the 41^st District (southeast DuPage County, northeast Will County and Lemont Township in Cook County) in the Illinois Senate since 1993. He has been the chief sponsor of several landmark pieces of legislation, including Illinois’ first campaign finance/ethics reforms in 25 years, the state’s first truth-in sentencing law, reorganization of the public higher education system, and tort reform. He also authored the law against “date rape” and the Secretary of State’s railroad safety initiatives. 

From December 1990 to December 1993, Dillard served with distinction as Chief of Staff to Governor Jim Edgar. He was a Judge on the Court of Claims from February 1987 to December 1990; Director of Legislative Affairs for former Governor James R. Thompson from October 1983 to February 1987; and a member of the Senate legislative staff from August 1977 to December 1981. 

Dillard is a member of the “Illinois Coalition,” a corporate academic and government board that work to strengthen the Illinois economy though promoting science and technology. He serves as a mentor for the University of Chicago Graduate School of Public Policies Studies. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Robert Crown Center for Health Education in Hinsdale, the Alumni Advisory Board for the DePaul University College of Law, and on the Advisory Board of Friends of Rush Children’s Hospital. He is past president of the Western Illinois University Alumni Council, member of the Union League Club of Chicago, and chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization. 

The Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Association named Dillard an “Outstanding Legislator for 1999.” The National Republican Legislators Association presented him with its prestigious 1996 “Legislator of the Year Award” for his extraordinary achievements in public service. He was chosen as the 1995 “Legislative Member of the Year” by the American Legislative Exchange Council, the nation’s largest bipartisan legislators’ organization. He was named the “Who’s Who in Chicago Business” by Crain’s Chicago Business, and was inducted into the Legislative Staff “Hall of Fame” by Illinois Issues magazine. He has received the American Bar Association Award for “Best Performance” on Land Use and Local Government Law. Dillard was named a “Guardian of Small Business” in 1998 and 2000 by the National Federation of Independent Business, and received a top rating by the Will County Government League. He received the 1997 “Jobs Defender” Award from the Employment Law Council. Other organizations honoring Dillard include the Illinois Alcohol and Drug Dependence Association, Family-PAC, DuPage County Farm Bureau, Bolingbrook Medical Center, Hinsdale Hospital and its Cancer Wellness House, Community Hospitals Against the Medicaid Provider Tax, ABATE, and DuPage County Respite House for medically-fragile children.

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