Rep.
J. Fritchey
(D-Chicago)
11th District
District
Office
2539 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 871-4000
(773) 871-4012 FAX
200-7 S Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-2458
(217) 557-7214 (fax)
E-mail: mystaterep@aol.com|
“To do this job well, you have to be very accessible to your constituents. Strong communities depend on good lines of communication between residents and their elected officials. Together we are making our great neighborhoods even better.” -John Fritchey
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In the News Publications Bill
Sponsorships Committees District
Profile & Map *Bill
sponsorship and committee information courtesy of the Legislative Information
System
Biography
Illinois Roots
The son of a Vietnam veteran, John Fritchey was born on March 2, 1964 at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. After living briefly in Olney, Illinois, home to three generations of his family, and later in Belleville, John moved to Chicago with his mother where he attended grammar school and high school. John went on to receive a B.A. degree in Economics from The University of Michigan in 1986 before returning home to Chicago where he earned a law degree from Northwestern University in 1989. With his wife Karen, John is now raising his own family just three blocks from where his grandmother once ran a family restaurant.
A Career in Public Service
Following law school, John accepted a position as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing the State in both state and federal courts. John was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1996 at the age of 32. John’s ability to garner support from both local elected officials and his broad grassroots base led political publications to call John the “new face of Chicago Democrats”. In 2000, as a result of his effective leadership and centrist views, the national Democratic Leadership Council named John as one of their “100 Rising Stars to Watch” in the country. In 2003, John was one of a select group to receive this honor for a second time.
Leadership on the Issues
Incorporating his centrist Democratic philosophies, John has established himself as a leader on numerous important issues facing Illinois. From gun safety to consumer protection to campaign reform, John has consistently fought for his constituents. In 2001, John’s efforts led to his being named Democratic Leader of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission.
In 2003, John’s hard work and experience led to his being selected to be Chairman of the House Civil Judiciary Committee, putting him at the forefront of handling many of the key proposals that affect our daily lives.
Since first being elected, John has been a leader in the fight to clean up government. In 2002, after four years of battling Governor George Ryan’s administration, John passed the first significant campaign reform law in Illinois in years, outlawing the practice of campaign fundraising by state inspectors. He previously worked with legislative leaders in the House and Senate to pass the most comprehensive ethics bill ever passed in the state.
As Chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee from 1999-2002, John was at the forefront of the fight to protect the rights of families and individuals throughout our state. His efforts to rein in escalating ATM fees received national praise and attention. Last session, in order to combat the growing problem of identity theft, John drafted legislation to prevent retailers from printing your full credit card number on receipts. This measure was signed into law in the summer of 2003.
When Illinois was awarded 9.1 billion dollars in the national lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers, House leadership named John to be Co-Chairman of the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Committee. In this role, John sponsored sweeping legislation to improve the health of all Illinoisans through a fiscally responsible plan combining major healthcare initiatives with long-term savings.
In addition to his service as a legislator, John has taught as an adjunct lecturer in political science at Northwestern University. He is involved with numerous civic organizations and local community groups and chambers of commerce. He also created the John Fritchey Youth Foundation, designed to create educational and recreational opportunities for local children through the sponsorship of academic and sports programs.
