Dale Righter
Dale Righter | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 55th district | |
| Assumed office January 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Watson (renumbered) |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 106th District | |
| In office November 1997 – January 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Weaver |
| Succeeded by | Keith P. Sommer (renumbered) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 23, 1966 Mattoon, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | Two |
| Residence | Mattoon, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Saint Louis University (J.D.) Eastern Illinois University (B.S.) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Dale Righter (born August 23, 1966) is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 55th district since 2003. The 55th district includes Clay, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties in the southeastern corner of the state.[1] He was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1997 through 2003.
Early life, education and career
Righter was born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois. He attended Mattoon High School and in 1988 graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science in accounting. In 1991, Righter earned his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. After law school, he took a job as a drug crimes prosecutor with the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.[2]
Illinois General Assembly
In September 1997, Righter was appointed to represent the 106th district in the Illinois House of Representatives after Mike Weaver resigned to accept an appointment to the Illinois Industrial Commission (since renamed the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission).[3] In 2001, he announced he was running for state senate in the newly created 55th district which included Lawrence, Crawford, Clark, Cumberland, Edgar, Coles, Douglas and Piatt counties as well as parts of Champaign, Effingham, Shelby and Wabash counties.[4]
Legislative Initiatives
During his time in the Illinois General Assembly, Righter has spearheaded legislative initiatives on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, school funding, health care and governmental accountability. Additionally, he sponsored legislation expanding newborn screening in Illinois to better utilize current medical advances for the health of infants and their families; measures to expand the Freedom of Information Act so taxpayers better know how their tax dollars are spent; and laws promoting the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels.
Committee Assignments
Righter currently serves as Republican Spokesman for the Appropriations I Committee, Executive Appointments Committee, and the Assignments Committee. Additional committee assignments include Human Services, Appropriations II, and Veterans Affairs.
Personal life
Righter lives in Mattoon and has two children. He is a member of the Salisbury Church, Peer Court Program of Mattoon, Elks Club Charleston Lodge, Mattoon YMCA, CHOICE of Mattoon, Ducks Unlimited, and Exchange Club of Mattoon. He also serves as Republican precinct committeeman in Mattoon and is a member of the Republican Century Gold Club.
References
- ^ "Illinois Senate District 55" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
- ^ "Biography". Illinois Senate Republicans. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
- ^ Davis, Jennifer (1997-11-30). "People: Shifts at the Top". Illinois Issues. Northern Illinois University Libraries. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
- ^ Schaefer, Michael (2001-10-04). "Righter to run for Senate". The Daily Eastern News. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
External links
- Senator Dale A. Righter (R) 55th District at the Illinois General Assembly
- State Senator Dale Righter constituency site
- Profile at Vote Smart