Robert Rita

Bob Rita
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 28th district
Assumed office
January 8, 2003
Preceded byTom Dart
Personal details
Born (1969-10-02) October 2, 1969 (age 55)
Oak Lawn, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMoraine Valley Community College
Governors State University

Robert "Bob" Rita (born October 2, 1969) is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 28th District since January 8, 2003. Rita is also the Calumet Township Democratic committeeman and a trustee on the township board.[citation needed] His state representative district includes parts of Chicago's 9th and 34th wards, as well as several suburbs. Rita lists economic redevelopment, equitable school funding and increased health care availability as his top priorities in the state legislature. Rita is an Operating Engineer and a member of Local #150. He is currently being investigated for felony intimidation following an incident in Orland Park, IL on October 4. 2023.[1]

Rita has been re-elected four times, and was unopposed in the 2008 general election. His opponent in the February 5, 2008 Democratic primary, Earick Rayburn, was backed by William Dugan - then-head of Operating Engineers Union Local 150. The union contributed nearly $100,000 to Rayburn's campaign.[2][3] Rita defeated Rayburn by a margin of more than 3-to-1 in the primary, and received about 60% of the vote in a five candidate race.[4]

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Rita is a member of the following Illinois House committees:[5]

  • Cities & Villages Committee (HCIV)
  • Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT Committee (HCDA)
  • Ethics & Elections Committee (SHEE)
  • (Chairman of) Executive Committee (HEXC)
  • Prescription Drug Affordability Committee (HPDA)
  • Revenue & Finance Committee (HREF)
  • (Chairman of) Sales, Amusements, and Other Taxes Subcommittee (HREF-SATX)
  1. ^ "Orland Park Police: State Rep. Rita accused of assaulting Orland Township Supervisor O'Grady".
  2. ^ 150 Out for Blood CapitolFax.com, November 5, 2007
  3. ^ Campaign Committee: Residents for Rayburn IL State Board of Elections
  4. ^ 2008 Primaries ABC News Chicago
  5. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.