Andy Manar

Andy Manar
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 48th district
Assumed office
January 2013 (2013-Jan)
Preceded by New District
Chairman of the Macoupin County Board
In office
December 2004 (2004-Dec) – December 2012 (2012-Dec)
Preceded by Don Denby
Succeeded by Mark Dragovich
Personal details
Born (1975-11-15) November 15, 1975
Bunker Hill, Illinois
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Trista
Children Three children
Residence Bunker Hill, Illinois
Alma mater Southern Illinois University
Profession Teacher
Religion Lutheran

Andy Manar (born November 15, 1975) is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate. He represents the 48th district stretches from Sangamon and Macon counties in the north to Madison County to the south and includes all or part of the cities of Blue Mound, Carlinville, Decatur, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Rochester, Springfield, Staunton, and Taylorville.[1] Prior to his election as a State Senator he was the Chief of Staff to Senate President John Cullerton and the Chairman of the Macoupin County Board.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Macoupin County, Andy Manar grew up in Bunker Hill. He went to Bunker Hill Community High School during which time he developed an interest in politics. Manar credits his strong roots in public service to the late Senator Vince Demuzio who he met when he enrolled in a college course taught by Demuzio. Manar later took an unpaid internship working for the Senator's district office focusing on constituent services.[2]

Manar attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a teacher certification.[3] In 1997, Manar was elected to the Bunker Hill City Council. In 2001, he defeated the incumbent mayor at the age of 25 to become the Mayor of Bunker Hill. During his tenure, the construction of an 18-acre city park, the city’s largest sidewalk replacement project, and housing rehabilitation for low income and senior citizens occurred.[4]

Macoupin County Board

In 2003, Manar left the Mayor’s post to join the Macoupin County Board as its youngest member. After Don Denby retired, Manar was elected Chairman unanimously by his fellow board members in December 2004.[5] During his time as Chairman, Macoupin County lost hundreds of jobs and a significant amount of its tax revenue when two of the county’s three active coal mines closed in 2007 and early 2008. Citing a fiscal crisis, Andy began enacting policies to save taxpayer money and run government on less resources. Under Manar, the Board in 2011 voted unanimously to cut their own pay and reduced the size of the Macoupin County Board by one-third, saving taxpayers more than $40,000 annually. The Board also repealed a costly pension plan that had been in place for elected officials. Manar also shut down the county-run economic development office and helped to create a new collaborative public-private partnership run equally by private business and municipal and county government.[2] In December 2012, Manar stepped down after four terms as the County Board Chairman, in order to transition to the Illinois Senate being succeeded by Mark Dragovich.[6] During his time on the county board, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton appointed Manar to be his Chief of Staff.[2]

Illinois State Senate

In September 2011, Manar announced his intention to run for State Senate in the new 48th district which had no incumbent official.[7] In the general election, Manar faced Republican candidate and Mayor of Decatur Mike McElroy. During the campaign, Manar was endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO, Citizen Action Illinois, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Social Workers and the State Journal-Registrar.[4][8] Andy Manar won the election with approximately 55% of the vote to Mike McElroy’s 45%.[9]

In his first term, Senator Manar has been an active legislator advocating for bills to make voting easier for college students,[10] helping charities by allowing the Public Building Commission to rent to not for profit groups,[11] curb new born infections of pertussis,[12] rewarding state contracts to businesses that employ Illinois residents,[13] working to reduce the discrepancy in funding for downstate school districts in Illinois[14] and allow the Central Illinois Economic Developmental Authority to create Enterprise Zones which would make it easier to create and keep jobs in Central Illinois.[15]

Committee Assignments

In the 99th General Assembly Senator Manar is a member of the following committees; Agriculture, Higher Education, Education, Labor, both appropriations committees and the Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care. He is also the vice-chairperson of the Executive Appointments committee. In the 98th General Assembly Senator Manar served as the sub-chairperson on the Subcommittee on Economic Development as well as on the Agriculture and Conservation, Executive Appointments, Higher Education, State Government & Veterans Affairs and both Appropriation committees respectively.[16]

Election Results

Illinois State Senate 48th District General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andy Manar 47,231 55.29
Republican Mike McElroy 38,183 44.71
Democratic gain from Republican
Illinois State Senate 48th District General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Andy Manar 34,402 55.62
Republican Linda Little 27,449 44.71 -0.33%
Turnout 61,851 -27.58
Democratic hold Swing +0.33

References

  1. ↑ "PA 97-0006 Legislative District 48" (PDF). 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  2. 1 2 3 "43rd Annual Commencement to Honor More Than 850 Graduates". Lewis and Clark Community College. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  3. ↑ http://senatorandymanar.com/bio
  4. 1 2 Staff writers (2012-11-07). "Manar Claims Seat in General Assembly". The BenGil Post. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  5. ↑ "The Reorganization Meeting of the Macoupin County Board Minutes of Monday December 6, 2004" (PDF). Macoupin County Clerk. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  6. ↑ "The Reorganization Meeting of the Macoupin County Board Minutes of Monday December 3, 2012" (PDF). Macoupin County Clerk. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  7. ↑ Lowe, Kenneth (2011-09-09). "Cullerton aide Andy Manar announces bid for 48th District seat". Herald & Review. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  8. ↑ "Official Campaign Website Endorsement Section".
  9. ↑ Lusvardi, Chris (2012-11-06). "Democrat Manar defeats McElroy in 48th District state senate race". Herald & Review. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  10. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1548". Illinois General Assembly.
  11. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1896". Illinois General Assembly.
  12. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1623". Illinois General Assembly.
  13. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1897". Illinois General Assembly.
  14. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1880". Illinois General Assembly.
  15. ↑ "Bill Status of SB1521". Illinois General Assembly.
  16. ↑ "Senator Andy Manar (D), 48th District Committee Assignments". Illinois General Assembly.

External links

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