John Cullerton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cullerton
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Cullerton in 2013
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| 38th President of the Illinois Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2009 – January 19, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Emil Jones |
| Succeeded by | Don Harmon |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 6th district |
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| In office January 31, 1991 – January 20, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Dawn Clark Netsch |
| Succeeded by | Sara Feigenholtz |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 7th district 12th district (1979–1983) |
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| In office January 10, 1979 – January 31, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Ellis B. Levin |
| Succeeded by | Ann Stepan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1948 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Pam Cullerton |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Loyola University, Chicago (BA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1970–1976 |
| Unit | Illinois National Guard |
John J. Cullerton was an important American politician. He was born on October 28, 1948. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
John Cullerton served in the Illinois Senate for many years. He represented the 6th district from 1991 until 2020. He also held a very important job as the President of the Illinois Senate from 2009 to 2020. He announced his retirement in November 2019. He officially left his role in January 2020.
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Early Life and Education
John Cullerton grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Loyola University Chicago. There, he earned two degrees. He received a bachelor's degree in political science. He also earned a law degree, called a J.D..
After finishing law school, Cullerton worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Chicago. This job involves helping people who cannot afford a lawyer. Later, he worked at a law firm. John Cullerton comes from a family with a history in politics.
Political Career
John Cullerton had a long career in Illinois politics. He served in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. He worked to pass many laws that helped the people of Illinois.
Serving in the Illinois House
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In 1979, John Cullerton was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly. This is the state's law-making body. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives for twelve years. During his time there, he was the Democratic Floor Leader. This role helps guide the party's legislative efforts. He was known for sponsoring and passing many bills into law.
Serving in the Illinois Senate
In 1991, Cullerton was appointed to the Illinois Senate. He took over the seat of Dawn Clark Netsch. He was then elected to the Senate in 1992. He became the Senate Majority Caucus Whip. This position helps keep party members organized. He continued to be a very active legislator. He sponsored more bills than many other lawmakers. Many of his bills became state laws.
In 2008, his fellow Democratic senators chose him to be the Senate President. He started this important role in 2009. He replaced Emil Jones. As Senate President, he led the Senate. One of his first big projects was passing a Capital Bill. This bill provided about $31 billion for public works projects. These projects created many jobs across Illinois. He also led the Senate during the impeachment trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Professional Life
While serving as a state senator, John Cullerton also worked as a lawyer. He was a partner at a law firm. His work focused on areas like government relations and real estate. This included helping with zoning and licensing issues.
Retirement from Politics
In November 2019, John Cullerton announced his plan to retire. He stepped down as Illinois Senate President in January 2020. He also formally resigned from the Senate the next day. Don Harmon became the new Senate President after Cullerton retired.
Personal Life
John Cullerton is married to Pam Cullerton. They have five children together.
Images for kids
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Cullerton in 2013
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John Cullerton's official portrait, around 1987
