David McSweeney (politician)

David McSweeney (born 1965) is a Republican politician and investment specialist from Barrington Hills, Illinois. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021.

David McSweeney
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 52nd district
In office
January 9, 2013 – January 13, 2021
Preceded byKent Gaffney
Succeeded byMartin McLaughlin
Personal details
Born1965 (age 57–58)
Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMargaret
Children2
Alma materDuke University
Professioninvestment specialist

Early life, education, and career

McSweeney was born in Park Ridge, Illinois and attended Barrington High School (Lake County, Illinois). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Duke University in 1987 and a master of business administration degree from the Fuqua School of Business in 1988. He has worked as an investment banker, financial consultant, and currently as an investment specialist, working for Banc of America Securities until April 2005. He has claimed a net worth in the millions.[1]

Political career

In 1998, McSweeney unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Republican Phil Crane in the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District in the 1998 United States House of Representatives elections.[2] McSweeney was the Republican nominee in Illinois's 8th congressional district in 2006. He won in the six-way primary but lost to Melissa Bean in the general election with 44% of the vote to Bean's 51%.

In 2012 McSweeney was elected to the Illinois State Legislature, representing the 52nd Illinois State House District. McSweeney won the Republican nomination over incumbent Kent Gaffney, who had been appointed to the seat after the death of incumbent Mark Beaubien.[3] In the general election, McSweeney defeated Beaubien's widow, Dee Beaubien, who ran as an Independent. No Democrat filed for the seat. McSweeney won re-election in 2014 against Democrat Bill Downs with 70 percent of the vote.[4] McSweeney won re-election in 2016 after running unopposed.

On September 5, 2019, McSweeney announced he would not run for reelection to the Illinois House of Representatives and instead focus on running for either United States Senate against Tammy Duckworth or for Illinois Secretary of State.[5][6] He was succeeded in the Illinois House by fellow Republican Martin McLaughlin.[7]

Political positions

On April 15, 2013, McSweeney filed a House resolution opposing a graduated income tax in Illinois.[8] McSweeney also led the charge to oppose extending Illinois' income tax hike beyond the 2015 sunset date.[9] He considers himself a strong conservative in both the fiscal and social sense. Rep. McSweeney is Lutheran.[10]

In 2014, McSweeney co-sponsored HB 983 which helps prevent local governments from issuing bonds for projects that could result in higher property taxes.[11] The measure went into effect on January 1, 2014.[11] In the spring of 2015, McSweeney introduced a measure to freeze property taxes for one year in townships with less than 100,000 people.[12]

In January 2015, McSweeney sponsored HB 173 to ban red light cameras. The legislation included a compromise that exempted the City of Chicago. House Bill 173 passed the Illinois House with 79 votes.[13]

McSweeney sponsored a bill that was signed into law on July 26, 2016, that restricted the amount of money that non-home-rule local governments can spend on traveling, meals, and lodging, and bans spending on entertainment.[14]

McSweeney supports capital punishment. In 2019, after two mass shootings in the U.S., McSweeney said he would either sponsor or co-sponsor a measure overturning the moratorium former Governor Pat Quinn placed on capital punishment eight years prior.[15]

Electoral history
Illinois 8th Congressional District Republican Primary, 1998[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Philip M. Crane (incumbent) 34,543 65.47
Republican S. David McSweeney 18,221 34.53
Total votes 52,764 100.0
Illinois 8th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2006[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney 25,085 42.92
Republican Kathy Salvi 19,370 33.14
Republican Robert W. Churchill 9,169 15.69
Republican Aaron B. Lincoln 2,630 4.50
Republican Ken Arnold 1,275 2.18
Republican James Creighton Mitchell Jr. 921 1.58
Total votes 58,450 100.0
Illinois 8th Congressional District General Election, 2006[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Melissa Bean (incumbent) 93,355 50.90
Republican David McSweeney 80,720 44.01
Moderate Bill Scheurer 9,312 5.08
Write-in votes Jonathan Farnick 7 0.00
Total votes 183,394 100.0
Illinois 52nd State House District Republican Primary, 2012[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney 4,762 41.33
Republican Kent Gaffney (incumbent) 3,985 34.59
Republican Danielle Rowe 2,775 24.08
Total votes 11,522 100.0
Illinois 52nd State House District General Election, 2012[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney 26,761 59.27
Independent Dee Beaubien 18,392 40.73
Total votes 45,153 100.0
Illinois 52nd State House District General Election, 2014[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney (incumbent) 22,676 69.59
Democratic Bill Downs 9,911 30.41
Total votes 32,587 100.0
Illinois 52nd State House District General Election, 2016[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney (incumbent) 40,392 99.97
Write-in votes Chris Bauman 11 0.03
Total votes 40,403 100.0
Illinois 52nd State House District General Election, 2018[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McSweeney (incumbent) 30,399 100.0
Total votes 30,399 100.0

References
  1. Savodnik, Peter. "McSweeney intent on beating Bean in '06". The Hill. Archived from the original on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  2. "Federal Elections 98: U.S. House Results - Illinois". 10 April 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-04-10. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. "McSweeney wins three-way 52nd House District primary". Daily Herald. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  4. "Election Results : General Election - 11/04/2014Z". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  5. Miller, Rich (September 5, 2019). "This just in… Rep. Dave McSweeney won't seek reelection". Capitol Fax. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  6. Sfondeles, Tina (September 5, 2019). "Rep. David McSweeney not seeking reelection, exploring run for statewide office". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  7. Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House and Senate Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit. 34 (1). Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  8. "McSweeney Marks Tax Day with Resolution Opposing Graduated Income Tax - Illinois Review". Illinoisreview.typepad.com. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  9. "Tax extension could come up in lame-duck session | Northwest Herald". Nwherald.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  10. "Public Affairs: Dave McSweeney [R-8th CD candidate] on Social Issues". Jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com. 2005-05-30. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  11. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0983". Ilga.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  12. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0178". Ilga.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  13. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0173". Ilga.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  14. "Gov. Bruce Rauner signs David McSweeney bill to curb government travel expenses". www.nwherald.com.
  15. Illinois, REBECCA ANZEL Capitol News. "State lawmaker to introduce death penalty bill in Illinois". The Southern.
  16. "Election Results 1998 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  17. "Election Results 2006 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  18. "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  19. "Election Results 2012 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  20. "Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  21. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  22. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  23. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
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