Phillips announces plans to run for state office

By Lindsay Welbers
IV Leader Staff

    Illinois Valley Community College Professor, Mike Phillips announced on September 7th that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for Illinois Sate Representative in the 106th House District.
    Phillips, who has taught Geology at IVCC since 1997, announced his candidacy because he feels that the 106th district needs better representation and increased funding for its local schools. “I just have this strong commitment to public service,” he said, “instead of complaining it seemed like it was time for me to try to do something.”
    If elected he hopes to achieve “equitable and healthy funding” for the schools in this district, many of which are rural schools who suffer especially during times of tightened budgets.
    “The state is building up this problem that gets a little bit bigger every year.” Phillips claims, “I think that’s irresponsible.”
    “Democrats from Chicago don’t understand that funding in a small school is different.” Phillips claims.
    “I will work with the majority leadership to improve state funding for schools and protect our communities.” Phillips states in his press release.
    Phillips has been on the Lostant school board since 2003 and president since 2005. According to his press release, “I know first hand the tough decisions communities face in funding their schools. When the schools in our area suffer from low state funding, the only choices for the school board are consolidation, which hurts the community, or a property tax increase, which hurts the farmers, homeowners and businesses.”
    The district is primarily rural and Phillips claims that because it currently has a republican representative and the state is primarily democratic, he feels that the district is not represented well.
    “My opponent is a quiet legislator,” Phillips said, “people don’t know who he is.”
    The district is a large district, but is mainly rural and only has about 100,000 residents. Phillips grew up in rural Grundy county and claims, “I feel very at home in the district, I can relate”
    Phillip's father was a farmer and worked in law enforcement.
    His father was elected Grundy County Sheriff in 1982.
    Phillips graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s and later Master’s degrees. He was married in 1990 to his wife Lisa and the two lived in the Chicago area until 1992 when Phillips was laid off.
    The pair moved to southern Illinois, where Lisa worked in her parents’ furniture business and Mike worked with the Illinois State Geological Survey.
Phillips was hired to work at IVCC in 1997 and the two moved to LaSalle County.
Shortly after the birth of their first child, Morgan in 1999, the three bought their home in rural Lostant.
Their son Ethan was born in 2002 and Phillips was elected to the Lostant school board. Lisa operates a small home furnishing and design business from a shop at their home.
Phillips is an Illinois licensed Professional Geologist and a member of AFT/IFT Local 1810, the Geological Society of America, and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers.
Phillips has been involved in political advocacy for most of his life. At IVCC Phillips has lead the voter registration drive since 2002 and has to date registered almost 1000 voters.