Senator Dan Cronin has been working hard for families in the western suburbs since his election to the General Assembly in 1990.  As a lawmaker, his priorities have always been those of the people he represents – better schools for our children, public safety, property tax relief and improving the quality of our lives by working with conservation and environmental groups to preserve and protect parks, forest preserves and natural areas.  He has proven himself a tough, effective leader in the Illinois Legislature, and the Chicago Tribune ranks him “among the best in the Senate.”  Additionally, he has been recognized in Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” and, more recently, “Friend of Industry” by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. 

Education has long been the primary focus of Senator Cronin’s service in the General Assembly.  As Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Dan played a pivotal role in bringing millions of dollars for new construction and renovation for our schools.  He also led the charge to reform Illinois’ education system by working to enhance teacher tenure and certification standards, create more charter schools and ensure that every student in Illinois received a basic “foundation” level of education funding. 

Senator Cronin was the chief sponsor and a key negotiator on the landmark Chicago School Reform legislation in 1995, which became a national model for helping failing school systems get back to the basics of educating our youth. More recently, as Minority Spokesman of the Education Committee, Senator Cronin sponsored bills that help develop early childhood education, address the problem of teacher shortages, and create teacher mentoring programs to assist educators in achieving success in the classroom.  He has worked closely with the highly-respected Golden Apple Foundation and continually supports their efforts to bring the best and brightest teachers to at-risk students in our most struggling schools. 

Since 1995, Senator Cronin has been a leader in the area of Workers’ Compensation Reform.  He has represented the Senate Republican caucus consistently as a strong voice for business and employer communities.  During this past legislative session, Senator Cronin also led the charge on landmark bi-partisan legislation aimed at setting stricter guidelines on the use of eminent domain, ensuring more rights for property owners.  This new law provides a more even playing field for the average homeowner, giving them some legal protection when faced with seizure of private property for economic development purposes.  Additionally, as a staunch advocate of tax relief, Dan led the fight for property tax caps to help seniors and others on fixed budgets. 

As a former DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney, Dan understands the importance of ensuring public safety.  He has been a leader in the drive for tougher sentencing laws in Illinois, sponsoring legislation cracking down on gang crimes and tougher penalties for violent crimes. In 2005, he advanced three bills addressing the problem of drunk driving in order to keep our roads safer.  Recognizing the growing problem of identity theft in our country, Dan was a lead sponsor on a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for this crime, while supporting a bill which requires businesses to notify Illinois consumers if their personal information is compromised.  To help combat school violence, Dan sponsored “Safe to Learn” legislation, which helped promote school safety initiatives.  And in the wake of the September 11th tragedy, Dan sponsored a tough new law to combat the threat of domestic terrorism. 

Senator Cronin has worked hard to improve our quality of life.  As a parent, he understands the importance of a stable family and led the way for legislation designed to bring peace of mind to adoptive parents after the plight of “Baby Richard” came to public attention. For many years he has fought for autistic children and their families, working hard to ensure that they receive the best care possible and giving them the opportunity to learn and grow as individuals in the community.  Dan also co-sponsored the Family Care Bill allowing employees to take leave from work to care for family members in need. 

Dan is a lifelong resident of DuPage County.  He graduated from Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst, Fenwick High School, Northwestern University and Loyola University Law School.  Dan serves on the Board of Directors of the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities, the Joseph Academy, Fenwick High School and the College of DuPage Business Leadership Advisory Council, among others.  He is a partner in the law firm of Power & Cronin, Ltd.  He is also the host of “Illinois Education with Senator Dan Cronin” on the Comcast Cable Network since 2001.  Dan currently lives in Elmhurst with his wife Juliann and their four children.  They are members of Immaculate Conception Parish. 

Committees – 95th General Assembly: 

Education – Minority Spokesperson

Judiciary-Civil Law

Pensions & Investments