Jim Edgar | |
|---|---|
.png) Edgar in 2013 | |
| 38th Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999 | |
| Lieutenant | Bob Kustra (1991–1998) Vacant (1998–1999) |
| Preceded by | Jim Thompson |
| Succeeded by | George Ryan |
| 35th Secretary of State of Illinois | |
| In office January 5, 1981 – January 14, 1991 | |
| Governor | Jim Thompson |
| Preceded by | Alan J. Dixon |
| Succeeded by | George Ryan |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 53rd district | |
| In office January 12, 1977 – March 8, 1979 Serving with Chuck Campbell and Larry Stuffle | |
| Preceded by | Max Coffey Bob Craig |
| Succeeded by | Harry Woodyard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Robert Edgar July 22, 1946 Vinita, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Brenda Smith |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Eastern Illinois University (BA) |
| Website | Jim Edgar |
James Robert Edgar (born July 22, 1946)[1][2] is an American politician who served as the 38th governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999.[3] A moderate Republican, he previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1977 to 1979 and as the 35th Secretary of State of Illinois from 1981 to 1991.[4]
Edgar was born in Vinita, Oklahoma and raised in Charleston, a city in Central Illinois. Beginning his political career as a legislative aide, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1976 and reelected in 1978. In 1979, while still in his second term, Edgar would be appointed as the director of legislative affairs for Illinois Governor Jim Thompson.
Following Secretary of State Alan J. Dixon's election to the U.S. Senate in 1980, Thompson appointed Edgar to serve the remainder of Dixon's term. Edgar would go on to win a full term in 1982 and was reelected by a significant margin in 1986 in a race complicated by a LaRouchian candidate on the Democratic ticket.
Edgar ran successfully for Governor of Illinois in the competitive 1990 election, narrowly defeating incumbent Attorney General Neil Hartigan. During of the Republican Revolution of '94, he won reelection in a landslide over the Democratic Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch—winning 101 of the state's 102 counties. He declined to run for a third term in 1998 and subsequently retired from public office.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:8was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "TWO OF A KIND". Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1994. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Illinois Governor Jim Edgar". Governor's Information. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
- ^ Howard, Robert (1999). Mostly Good and Competent Men (2nd ed.). University of Illinois at Springfield, Center for State Policy and Leadership. pp. 332–333. ISBN 978-0938943150.