Craig Wilcox

American politician

Craig Wilcox
Col. Wilcox as 89th Airlift Support Group commander (2011)

Member of the Illinois Senate from the 32nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office October 1, 2018 (2018-Oct-01)
Preceded by	Pamela Althoff

Personal details
Born	1967 or 1968 (age 55–56)^[1] El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Janice^[2]
Children	3^[2]
Residence(s)	McHenry, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute^[2]
Website	https://senatorwilcox.com
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1989–2013
Rank	Colonel

Craig Wilcox is a Republican Illinois State Senator for the 32nd District. The district includes all or parts of Antioch, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Greenwood, Harvard, Johnsburg, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, Marengo, McHenry, Spring Grove, Volo, Wonder Lake, and Woodstock.^[3]

Early life

Wilcox was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Essex Junction, Vermont.^[2]

Military career

Wilcox attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on an Air Force scholarship and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1989.^[2] He then entered active duty as a Communications Officer and was selected to command on three separate occasions.^[1]^[4]

During his career, he served as Commander of the 89th Airlift Support Group at Joint Base Andrews.^{[citation needed]} There, he led his unit providing global command and control communications and aerial port services to the President of the United States and Air Force One.^{[citation needed]} His first command was the 52nd Combat Communications Squadron, shortly after the September 11 attacks, where he helped establish new airbases in Kyrgyzstan.^{[citation needed]} His second deployment was in March 2003 in southern Iraq, where his unit established the first United States Airbase in enemy territory in over 50 years.^{[citation needed]} Colonel Wilcox returned to Iraq for his final deployment during the height of the insurgency and commanded for a year from 2006 to 2007 at Balad Air Base.^{[citation needed]} Colonel Wilcox earned two Bronze Star Medals during these combat tours.^{[citation needed]}

Illinois Senate

Wilcox moved to McHenry, Illinois following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 2013. In 2016, he was elected to the McHenry County Board to represent District 4. In 2017, incumbent Republican Senator Pamela Althoff announced her intention to run for McHenry County Board instead of seeking reelection to the Illinois Senate.^[5] Craig Wilcox and John Reinert, a fellow Republican member of the McHenry County Board, filed to run for the Republican nomination, but Reinert withdrew before the primary. Wilcox then faced Democratic nominee and McHenry Township Assessor Mary Mahady.^[6] During the general election, Wilcox was appointed to the Illinois Senate to succeed Althoff, who stepped down early. Wilcox defeated Mahady in the general election.^[4]

Committee assignments

Craig Wilcox currently serves on the following committees: Appropriations; Education; Labor (Minority Spokesperson); Local Government; Transportation; Veterans Affairs (Minority Spokesperson).^[7]

Electoral history

2022 General Election for Illinois State Senate District 32^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Craig Wilcox	45,583	55.9
	Democratic	Allena Barbato	36,009	44.1
Total votes			81,592	100.0

2018 General Election for Illinois State Senate District 32^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Craig Wilcox	43,402	54.7
	Democratic	Mary Mahady	35,936	45.3
Total votes			79,338	100.0

References

^ ^a ^b Wilcox, Craig (September 27, 2018). "Election 2018 candidate: Craig Wilcox, Senate District 32" (Interview). Interviewed by Northwest Herald Editorial Board. Crystal Lake, Illinois: Northwest Herald. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e White, Jesse (ed.). "Legislators' Portraits and Biographies". Illinois Blue Book 2019-2020 (PDF). p. 91.
^ "PA 97-0006 Legislative District 23" (PDF). May 18, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Barlow, Sarah E., ed. (November 15, 2018). "Biographies of New Senate Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 11. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
^ Komenda, Ed (November 22, 2017). "Sen. Pamela Althoff to run for McHenry County Board District 4". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^ Komenda, Ed (September 21, 2017). "McHenry Township Assessor Mary Mahady announces run for Illinois Senate District 32 seat". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
^ "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Biography". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Craig Wilcox".