Allen Skillicorn

Allen Skillicorn
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 66th district
In office
January 11, 2017 (2017-Jan-11) – January 5, 2021 (2021-Jan-05)
Preceded byMichael W. Tryon
Succeeded byGary Daugherty
Personal details
BornJuly 8, 1974[1]
Political partyRepublican[1][2]
SpouseHeather[1][2]
Parent
  • April[1] (mother)
ResidenceEast Dundee, Illinois[1][2]
EducationAssociate degree[2]
Alma materElgin Community College[2]
WebsiteRepresentative Biography

Allen Skillicorn was a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives who represented the 66th district from 2017 to 2021. The 66th State House District includes parts of Algonquin, Crystal Lake, East and West Dundee, Elgin, Gilberts, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood and Sleepy Hollow.[3]

Early life and education

Born in the 1970s, Skillicorn was raised in Algonquin, Illinois.[1][2] He graduated from Dundee-Crown High School and received an associate degree from Elgin Community College.[2]

Career

Skillicorn worked as a Director of Marketing for a local electronics manufacturer.[1][2]

Skillicorn served as a trustee for East Dundee, Illinois, and as vice-chairman of the Kane County Republican Party.[1][2][4] He also served as Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois, Liberty Leader for the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Rifle Association, former board member of the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce, Sports Car Club of America, and a volunteer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.[2]

Illinois House of Representatives

After incumbent Republican Michael W. Tryon announced he would retire at the end of his term, four Republican candidates contested to replace him in the 2016 election,[4] although one of those candidates withdrew and endorsed Skillicorn.[5] Skillicorn won the primary[6] with 37.1% of the vote.[7] He won the general election on November 8, 2016,[8] with 57.6% of the vote.[9] Skillicorn was sworn in on January 11, 2017.[10]

In 2018, Skillicorn won the Republican primaries for his district. No Democrats filed, so he ran unopposed.[11]

Citing troubles with the Illinois Department of Employment Security website, Skillicorn launched a recall effort to remove Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker from office. Skillicorn said fellow Republican House members Brad Halbrook, Blaine Wilhour, and Darren Bailey agreed to sign the petition. All three had expressed dissatisfaction with the Governor's stay-at-home order. When asked about the effort, Pritzker blamed Skillicorn, his party, and former Republican Governor Bruce Rauner for a two-year budget impasse that left the Illinois Department of Employment Security without necessary funding.[12]

The Illinois Legislative Inspector General substantiated allegations in an ethics complaint filed against Skillicorn and found Skillicorn recorded as having voted on bills during a June 1, 2020, legislative session, despite not being present. Photos and videos showed Skillicorn at a parade about 220 miles (350 km) away from the Illinois Capitol. Skillicorn said he agreed with everything in the Inspector General's report and the votes he cast were inadvertent.[13][14]

In the 2020 general election, Skillicorn lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Suzanne Ness.[15] On January 5, 2021, eight days before the end of his term, Skillicorn resigned from the Illinois House of Representatives.[16] Gary Daugherty, the Secretary of the Kane County Republican Party, was appointed to fill Skillicorn's vacancy during the lame duck session. Ness was sworn in for the 102nd General Assembly on January 13, 2021.[17]

Other political activity

Skillicorn endorsed Libertarian Party candidate Kash Jackson in the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election.[18]

Skillicorn considered a 2020 bid for the 14th congressional district of Illinois. In a letter to Republican leadership regarding a pizza party, Skillicorn wrote, "I am serious about helping President Trump drain the swamp and empower the American people...If I am fortunate enough to serve as your congressman, I will be a tireless party builder to peel back the corrupt, corrosive influence of Nancy Pelosi and the new batch of Democratic socialists that threaten our jobs, communities, families and freedom while benefiting special interests."[19] On September 4, 2019, Skillicorn instead endorsed Jim Oberweis for Congress in the 14th District and announced plans to seek re-election to the Illinois House.[20]

Personal life

Skillicorn resided with his wife, Heather, in East Dundee.[1][2] Prior to 2020, he had lived in the Fox Valley area his entire life.[21] In December 2020, Skillicorn and his wife moved to Fountain Hills, Arizona, where he ran for town council.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Vote Smart (n.d.). "Allen Skillicorn's Biography". Vote Smart. Des Moines, IA. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k “Allen Skillicorn: Candidate Profile.” (2016-02-05). Dailyherald.com. Retrieved [2016-10-05].
  3. ^ Sauder, Erin (2015-05-29). "East Dundee Trustee Skillicorn considering run for state House". Elgin Courier-News. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  4. ^ a b Craver, Kevin P. (February 12, 2016). "4 GOP Candidates Vie to Succeed Illinois Rep. Mike Tryon in 66th House DIstrict". Northwest Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Craver, Kevin P. (March 7, 2016). "Paul Serwatka Drops Out of 66th Illinois House Race, Endorses Skillicorn". Northwest Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Craver, Kevin P. (March 17, 2016). "Illinois Primary: Candidates Hold Leads in Updated McHenry County Vote Totals". Northwest Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "Election Results – General Primary – 3/15/2016". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "Allen Skillicorn wins 66th Illinois House District". Northwest Herald. November 9, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "Election Results – General Election – 11/8/2016". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Craver, Kevin P. (January 11, 2017). "New McHenry County Lawmakers Take Seats in Springfield, Face Hard Battles Ahead". Northwest Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Allen Skillicorn - Ballotpedia". Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  12. ^ Earley, Neal (May 26, 2020). Fusco, Chris (ed.). "Total Recall? GOP quartet seeks to oust Pritzker, insisting 'it's going to be difficult' but not 'impossible'". Politics. Chicago Sun-Times. Springfield, Illinois. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020. The East Dundee Republican launched a recall effort to remove the Chicago Democrat from office...Skillicorn said troubles with the Illinois Department of Employment Security website was the last straw.
  13. ^ Zimmerman, Drew (March 3, 2020). Styf, Jon (ed.). "Investigator finds against Skillicorn on voting ethics violation". Local News. Northwest Herald. Crystal Lake, Illinois: Shaw Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope found against state Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, in an ethics claim that Skillicorn was recorded voting on 23 bills when he wasn't present during a June 1 legislative session.
  14. ^ Rohr, Lauren (March 3, 2020). "'It was a mistake' • Rep. Skillicorn corrects voting, attendance record". Politics. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois: Paddock Publications. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. Allegations that state Rep. Allen Skillicorn was absent during a legislative session last summer, where he was recorded as present and voting in multiple roll calls, have been "substantiated" by the Illinois legislative inspector general.
  15. ^ Lounsberry, Sam (2020-11-03). "Barrington Hills village president on track to take Illinois House seat currently held by outgoing David McSweeney". Northwest Herald. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  16. ^ Miller, Rich (January 5, 2020). "After refusing to wage a real campaign, Skillicorn resigns in a huff". Capitol Fax. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  17. ^ Schory, Brenda (January 12, 2021). "Defeated Skillicorn resigns, Kane, McHenry GOP pick his replacement". Kane County Chronicle. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  18. ^ Zimmerman, Drew (October 23, 2018). "Rep. Skillicorn backs Kash Jackson in race for governor". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Zimmerman, Drew (March 13, 2019). Styf, Jon (ed.). "State Rep. Skillicorn considering 2020 congressional bid". Local News. Northwest Herald. Crystal Lake, Illinois: Shaw Media. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020. ...state Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said a congressional bid in 2020 is something he's still thinking about...In a letter to Republican leadership regarding the pizza party event...
  20. ^ Zimmerman, Drew (September 5, 2019). Styf, Jon (ed.). "Skillicorn endorses Oberweis in congressional race". Local News. Northwest Herald. Crystal Lake, Illinois: Shaw Media. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2020. State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, formally endorsed state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, for Congress in the 14th District on Wednesday...However, Skillicorn said Wednesday he has announced his intentions to run for reelection in the Illinois House.
  21. ^ "Representative Allen Skillicorn (R): 66th District". 100th Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved January 20, 2017.