 | Thisbiography of a living person includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(September 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Dave Phelps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's19th district | |
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Glenn Poshard |
| Succeeded by | John Shimkus (redistricted) |
| Member of theIllinois House of Representatives from the 118th district | |
| In office January 1985 – January 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Winchester |
| Succeeded by | James D. Fowler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Dwain Phelps (1947-10-26)October 26, 1947 (age 78) Eldorado, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Leslie Phelps |
| Children | 4, includingNatalie |
| Education | Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (BS) |
David Dwain Phelps (born October 26, 1947) is an American educator and politician and formerDemocratic member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois.
Phelps was born inEldorado, Illinois. He graduated fromSouthern Illinois University in 1969. Phelps was trained as an educator. After teaching for several years, he became a school administrator. From 1980 to 1984, he served asSaline County Clerk and Recorder. Phelps was a member of theIllinois House of Representatives from 1984 until 1998.
He was elected to Congress in 1998 fromIllinois's 19th congressional district after 10-year incumbentGlenn Poshard made an unsuccessful run forgovernor. In 2002, Illinois lost a district as a result of the 2000 Census. Phelps' district was dismantled and split between three neighboring districts. His home inEldorado was drawn into theChampaign-Urbana based15th District, whileDecatur, the heart of his former district, was shifted to theQuad Cities-based17th District. The bulk of his former district was merged with the neighboring20th District. Phelps ran against 20th DistrictRepublican incumbentJohn Shimkus in the general election. The new district was numerically Phelps' district—the 19th. However, it was geographically and demographically more Shimkus' district; Phelps only retained 35 percent of his former territory. The campaign was very bitter; both men accused the other's staffers of stalking their families.[1] Shimkus won by over 20,000 votes in this much more conservative district.
The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General found that David Phelps, a Democrat from Harrisburg, should be banned from working in state government because of his behavior as an assistant director of the Illinois Department of Transportation from 2003 to 2011. Phelps quit his $127,700 post in 2011 in the midst of an unfolding scandal involving similar allegations against one of his deputies at the agency, Danny Clayton. Three other workers and one contractor also were ensnared in the probe. Phelps was hired by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after losing a bid for Congress to Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville in the 2002 election.[2]
Phelps is aBlue Dog Democrat. While in Congress, he was stronglyanti-abortion, pro-gun, and co-sponsored theFederal Marriage Amendment.
A professional songwriter, Phelps toured the nation as agospel singer, in a quartet with his brothers. While serving in the U.S. House, he was the hymn director for the Congressional Weekly Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill.
As of August 2017, he was serving as a member of the Saline County Board.[3]
Both his nephew,Brandon Phelps, and daughter,Natalie Phelps Finnie, served as members of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 118th district.
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | David D. Phelps | 122,430 | 58% | Brent Winters | 87,614 | 42% | ||
| 2000 | David D. Phelps | 155,101 | 65% | James "Jim" Eatherly | 85,137 | 35% | ||
| 2002 | David D. Phelps | 110,517 | 45% | John Shimkus | 133,956 | 55% |
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 19th congressional district 1999–2003 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
