Mike Frerichs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Frerichs
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| 74th Treasurer of Illinois | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2015 |
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| Governor | Bruce Rauner J. B. Pritzker |
| Preceded by | Dan Rutherford |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 52nd district |
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| In office January 2007 – January 12, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Rick Winkel |
| Succeeded by | Scott Bennett |
| Auditor of Champaign County | |
| In office 2002–2007 |
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| Preceded by | Gerrie Parr |
| Succeeded by | Tony Fabri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 28, 1973 Gifford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Erica Baker
(m. 2022)Laura Appenzeller
(m. 2003; div. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) National Cheng Kung University |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Government website |
Michael W. Frerichs (born July 28, 1973) is an American politician. He is currently serving his third term as the State Treasurer of Illinois. He first took office on January 12, 2015.
Before becoming Treasurer, he was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the Illinois Senate from 2007 to 2015. He represented the 52nd District, which includes parts of Champaign and Vermilion counties.
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Early Life and Education
Frerichs grew up in Gifford. After high school, he went to Yale University. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1995.
Later, he studied Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan at National Cheng Kung University. While there, he also taught English. When he returned to Illinois, he started his own technology business. He also volunteered as a firefighter in his local community.
Serving Champaign County
In 2000, Frerichs was elected to the Champaign County Board. He was re-elected in 2002.
Later that year, he became the Champaign County Auditor. As Auditor, his job was to manage the county's money. This included preparing budget reports and keeping financial records. He also made sure the county followed state and federal money rules. He worked to prevent fraud and improve the county's financial health. He was the only County Auditor in Illinois to become a Certified Public Finance Officer.
Illinois State Senator
In 2005, Frerichs decided to run for the 52nd Senate District seat. This area covers most of Champaign County and Vermilion County. He won the election in 2006. He was the first Democratic State Senator from East Central Illinois since 1936.
As a State Senator, Frerichs led important committees. He was Chairman of the Illinois Senate's Committee on Higher Education. Here, he worked to make college more affordable for students. He also served on committees for agriculture and financial institutions.
During his time in the Senate, Frerichs worked on several key issues. He helped end a program that gave scholarships to lawmakers. He also pushed for companies to share what chemicals they used in fracking. After Governor Rod Blagojevich was removed from office, Frerichs helped make sure he could never hold office in Illinois again.
Treasurer of Illinois
Mike Frerichs became the Illinois Treasurer in 2015. This job involves managing the state's money. He oversees investments and programs that help Illinois residents save money.
Becoming Treasurer: 2014 Election
In 2014, Frerichs ran for the office of Illinois Treasurer. The election was very close. He won against Tom Cross by only 9,225 votes. This was one of the closest elections in Illinois history.
Re-election Campaigns
Frerichs sought re-election in 2018 and 2022. He won both elections. In 2018, he won with over 57% of the votes. In 2022, he won with 54.3% of the votes. This means he is now serving his third term as Treasurer.
His Work as Treasurer
Frerichs started his first term on January 12, 2015. He began his second term in 2019 and his third term in 2023. He is the 74th Treasurer of Illinois.
He also holds important roles in national organizations. He was elected president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers in 2022. He also received an award for his work with college savings plans.
In 2018, Treasurer Frerichs launched a program called Secure Choice. This program helps private-sector workers in Illinois save for retirement. Many workers do not have a retirement plan through their job. So far, over 114,000 workers have saved more than $100 million through this program.
Personal Life
Mike Frerichs has three children. He married Laura Appenzeller in 2003, and they had a daughter in 2008. They divorced in 2013. In 2022, Frerichs married Erica Baker. They welcomed twin sons, Max and Theo, in June 2023.
