Allen Skillicorn | |
|---|---|
| Member of theIllinois House of Representatives from the 66th district | |
| In office January 11, 2017 (2017-01-11) – January 5, 2021 (2021-01-05) | |
| Preceded by | Michael W. Tryon |
| Succeeded by | Gary Daugherty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 8, 1974[1] |
| Party | Republican[1][2] |
| Spouse | Heather[1][2] |
| Parent |
|
| Residence | East Dundee, Illinois[1][2] |
| Education | Associate degree[2] |
| Alma mater | Elgin Community College[2] |
| Website | Representative Biography |
Allen Skillicorn is a former politician fromIllinois. He was aRepublican member of theIllinois House of Representatives who represented the 66th district from 2017 to 2021. The 66th State House District includes parts ofAlgonquin,Crystal Lake,East andWest Dundee,Elgin,Gilberts,Huntley,Lake in the Hills,Lakewood andSleepy Hollow.[3]
Born in the 1970s, Skillicorn was raised inAlgonquin, Illinois.[1][2] He graduated fromDundee-Crown High School and received an associate degree fromElgin Community College.[2]
Skillicorn worked as a Director of Marketing for a local electronics manufacturer.[1][2]
Skillicorn served as a trustee forEast Dundee, Illinois, and as vice-chairman of theKane County Republican Party.[1][2][4] He also served as Chairman of theRepublican Liberty Caucus of Illinois, Liberty Leader for theIllinois Policy Institute, Illinois Rifle Association, former board member of the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce,Sports Car Club of America, and a volunteer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.[2]
After incumbent RepublicanMichael W. Tryon announced he would retire at the end of his term, four Republican candidates contested to replace him in the2016 election,[4] although one of those candidates withdrew and endorsed Skillicorn.[5] Skillicorn won the primary[6] with 37.1% of the vote.[7] He won the general election on November 8, 2016,[8] with 57.6% of the vote.[9] Skillicorn was sworn in on January 11, 2017.[10]
In 2018, Skillicorn won the Republican primaries for his district. NoDemocrats filed, so he ran unopposed.[11]
Citing troubles with theIllinois Department of Employment Security website, Skillicorn launched a recall effort to remove Illinois GovernorJ. B. Pritzker from office. Skillicorn said fellow Republican House membersBrad Halbrook,Blaine Wilhour, andDarren Bailey agreed to sign the petition. All three had expressed dissatisfaction with the Governor's stay-at-home order. When asked about the effort, Pritzker blamed Skillicorn, his party, and former Republican GovernorBruce Rauner for a two-year budget impasse that left the Illinois Department of Employment Security without necessary funding.[12]
The Illinois Legislative Inspector General substantiated allegations in an ethics complaint filed against Skillicorn and found Skillicorn recorded as having voted on bills during a June 1, 2020, legislative session, despite not being present. Photos and videos showed Skillicorn at a parade about 220 miles (350 km) away from the Illinois Capitol. Skillicorn said he agreed with everything in the Inspector General's report and the votes he cast were inadvertent.[13][14]
In the 2020 general election, Skillicorn lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Suzanne Ness.[15] On January 5, 2021, eight days before the end of his term, Skillicorn resigned from the Illinois House of Representatives.[16] Gary Daugherty, the Secretary of the Kane County Republican Party, was appointed to fill Skillicorn's vacancy during the lame duck session. Ness was sworn in for the 102nd General Assembly on January 13, 2021.[17]
Skillicorn endorsedLibertarian Party candidate Kash Jackson in the2018 Illinois gubernatorial election.[18]
Skillicorn considered a 2020 bid for the14th congressional district of Illinois. In a letter to Republican leadership regarding a pizza party, Skillicorn wrote, "I am serious about helpingPresident Trump drain the swamp and empower the American people...If I am fortunate enough to serve as your congressman, I will be a tireless party builder to peel back the corrupt, corrosive influence ofNancy Pelosi and the new batch ofDemocratic socialists that threaten our jobs, communities, families and freedom while benefiting special interests."[19] On September 4, 2019, Skillicorn instead endorsedJim Oberweis for Congress in the 14th District and announced plans to seek re-election to the Illinois House.[20]
In 2022, Skillicorn was elected to the town council ofFountain Hills, Arizona.[21]
Skillicorn resided with his wife, Heather, in East Dundee.[1][2] Prior to 2020, he had lived in theFox Valley area his entire life.[22] In December 2020, Skillicorn and his wife moved toFountain Hills, Arizona, where he ran for town council.
The East Dundee Republican launched a recall effort to remove the Chicago Democrat from office...Skillicorn said troubles with the Illinois Department of Employment Security website was the last straw.
Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope found against state Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, in an ethics claim that Skillicorn was recorded voting on 23 bills when he wasn't present during a June 1 legislative session.
Allegations that state Rep. Allen Skillicorn was absent during a legislative session last summer, where he was recorded as present and voting in multiple roll calls, have been "substantiated" by the Illinois legislative inspector general.
...state Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said a congressional bid in 2020 is something he's still thinking about...In a letter to Republican leadership regarding the pizza party event...
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, formally endorsed state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, for Congress in the 14th District on Wednesday...However, Skillicorn said Wednesday he has announced his intentions to run for reelection in the Illinois House.