Michael Halpin

Michael Halpin is a Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate[2] representing the 36th district[3].The 36th district contains portions of Rock Island County, Henry County, Mercer County, Knox County, McDonough County, and Warren County. Cities and villages of the 36th district include; Moline, Rock Island, Galesburg, East Moline, Macomb, Monmouth, Silvis, Milan, Colona, Coal Valley, Knoxville, Bushnell, Carbon Cliff, Hampton, Orion, Roseville, Alexis, East Galesburg, Sherrard, Alpha, New Windsor, North Henderson, Rio, and Good Hope. He first took office in January 2017, when he was elected as State Representative of the 72nd district in Illinois.

Michael Halpin
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 36th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2023 (2023-Jan-11)
Preceded byNeil Anderson
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
In office
January 10, 2017 (2017-Jan-10) – January 11, 2023
Preceded byPatrick J. Verschoore
Succeeded byGregg Johnson
Personal details
Born1978 or 1979 (age 44–45)[1]
Voorheesville, New York
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Ann
Children2
ResidenceRock Island, Illinois
Alma materRoger Williams University (B.A.)
University of Illinois (J.D.)
OccupationLegislator
ProfessionAttorney, Politician

Early life and career

Congressman Lane Evans hired Halpin in early 2002 as his district scheduler and personal aide. Halpin traveled with Lane throughout the district, working with local elected officials and constituents to arrange town hall meetings and other events. Halpin also served as Lane’s liaison with the National Personnel Records Center, helping local veterans receive the military honors they had earned during their service.

It was during his time in Lane’s office that Mike met his wife, MaryAnn, at an East Moline Democrat Club meeting. The two married in 2005.[4] Shortly after their wedding, they both enrolled in the University of Illinois, MaryAnn earning her Master’s degree and Mike following in Lane’s footsteps and earning a law degree, graduating cum laude. Upon graduation, he clerked for former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Rita B. Garman, in Danville, Illinois.

Halpin is an attorney by trade, practicing law at the Rock Island firm of McCarthy, Callas, & Feeney, P.C. In 2013, after only three years at the firm, he became a partner. His primary areas of practice are Labor Law and Municipal Law, as well as representing working people in their estate planning, traffic, and real estate matters. Halpin also serves on the Board of Directors for Bridging the Gap: Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, and provides free consultations, and some pro bono representation, for veterans in need.

Illinois General Assembly

As of June 29, 2023, Senator Halpin is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:[5]

  • Appropriations- Education
  • (Chairman of) Higher Education
  • Judiciary
  • State Government
  • Veterans Affairs

Halpin was a legislative member of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission while a member of the House.[6] The commission is composed of representatives from four states to promote development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest and to develop long-range plans for high speed rail passenger service in the Midwest and other regions of the country.[7]

In 2018, Democrat J.B. Pritzker appointed Halpin, an attorney, a member of the gubernatorial transition's Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee.[8][9]

References
  1. "Illinois House District 72 state representative candidate: Mike Halpin". The Dispatch-Argus. October 15, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  2. "Illinois General Assembly - Senate Members". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  3. "36th District". senatorhalpin.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  4. "Bio". www.senatorhalpin.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  5. "Illinois General Assembly - Senator Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  6. Wolff, Jonathan P., ed. (October 31, 2018). "40135 Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission" (PDF). Expiration and Vacancy Report for the Governor of Illinois. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 256. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  7. Gruber, Amanda (August 1, 2018). "Publication 425: State Board and Commission Descriptions" (PDF). Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 510. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  8. Miller, Rich (December 3, 2018). "Pritzker transition announces Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee". Capitol Fax. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  9. Timmons, Eric (October 19, 2015). "Halpin announces run for District 72 seat". QC Online. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
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