New state Rep. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, has re-opened district offices in Watseka and Pontiac and has hired Susan Wynn Bence, of Watseka, as his chief of staff — the job she held for former Rep. Josh Harms, R-Watseka.
Bennett also has decided to retire from State Farm Insurance and has resigned as chairman and trustee of Parkland College in Champaign.
Bennett was elected in November to represent the 106th House District after Harms decided for personal reasons to quit after his first term and return to teaching.
The district includes all of Iroquois and Ford counties and stretches from Indiana to about the Illinois River at Peoria. It also includes, most of Livingston County, northern Vermilion County and eastern Woodford County. "Geographically, the 106th district is one of the largest districts in the state. Having two offices open five days per week will help make us more accessible to everyone," Bennett said.
Bennett is keeping the office sites Harms used, at convenient locations in Watseka and Pontiac. The Watseka office is at 342 W. Walnut St. (U.S. Route 24, just west of the railroad), 815-432-0106. Wynn Bence, a member of the Iroquois County Board, operated the office there for Harms, "so residents who contact my Watseka office will continue to benefit from the experience and dedication she brings to the job," Bennett said.
The Pontiac office is at 311 N. Mill St., Suite 2, just north of Howard Street (Illinois 116). Mills Street is the west street of the courthouse square. The office will be manned by newly hired deputy chief of staff David Littlefield, of Gibson City, who was Bennett's campaign manager.
Bennett will hold open houses on March 9 from 2 to 4 p.m at the Pontiac office and 5-7 p.m. at Watseka.
Constituents also can contact Bennett by visiting his website at www.repbennett.com.
<strong>Going full-time</strong>
Bennett officially will retire later this spring from his job as manager of information technology and professional development at State Farm headquarters in Bloomington, where he has worked for about 30 years. However, he left the post two weeks ago to use extensive vacation time.
He also resigned from the Parkland College board after 19 years. He earlier had said he would just give up the chairmanship and serve out the two years remaining on his trustee term, but explained that he believed the college should have a full-time trustee and his legislative district should have a full-time representative.
Bennett grew up on a farm at Gibson City, where he returned from college to farm and teach high school science. He holds a doctorate in business management and has been a computer software developer and trainer.
<strong>Education committees</strong>
Bennett will be putting his experience on the Parkland board and as a former teacher to work in House committee assignments dealing with elementary and high schools, higher education and appropriations for both.
Bennett will serve on the Higher Education committee, and also the Appropriations-Education (K-12) and Appropriations-Higher Education committees.
"One of the biggest issues we will deal with in the General Assembly this spring is how we fund our schools. Legislation has been introduced that would substantially change the current formula and would have a great impact on schools in our district," Bennett announced Tuesday.
He also will serve on committees on state government administration, consumer protection, and on renewable energy sustainability, a newly created special committee.