PEORIA, Ill. — State Sen. John Sullivan, a Democrat from Rushville, is the only full-time farmer with a seat in the Illinois legislature. State Rep. Donald Moffitt, a Republican from Gilson, is a retired farmer who will soon be rejoining his son on the family farm.
Both have recently announced impending retirements from state public service, meaning the General Assembly could soon become a little less farm-friendly. "After many weeks of reflection, discussion with family, friends and colleagues, I have decided that I will not be a candidate for reelection as state representative in 2016," said Moffitt, 68, who serves on the Senate’s Agriculture and Conservation Committee.
He is also the Republican spokesperson for both the Police and Fire and Counties and Townships committees. Moffitt, who holds an office in Galesburg, plans to spend more time with his grandchildren and wife, while assisting his son on the farm. "I have chosen to leave on my own terms," he said.
He is in his 12th term spanning a 23-year career in the legislature. The semi-retired farmer was named as "Legislator of the Year" by several state associations during his political career.
After graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in agriculture education and economics, Moffitt began his political career in local government as the mayor of Oneida.
He is a cosponsor of Illinois H.B. 4282, which appropriates $3 million from the Partners for Conservation Fund for fiscal year 2016, for grants to county Soil and Water Conservation Districts for expenses and salaries. The bill also appropriates $4.5 million to the Illinois Department of Agriculture from the fund for the Partners for Conservation Program, to implement ag resource enhancement programs.
The measure was introduced on Aug. 26 and since Sept. 2 has been listed as "in committee" on bill tracking websites.
Over the years Moffitt was also instru-mental in introducing and pushing through ag-friendly bills promoting biofuel, rural education and infrastructure and hybrid and electric vehicles. He also helped introduce legislation that led to the establishment of a statewide website designed to bring together specialty crop growers and aerial pesticide applicators, among other legislative efforts.
"Traditional farmers need to be able to protect their crops, but we also need to respect the specialty crop growers," he told Farm World in 2010, offering a glimpse into his reputation as a politician willing to work with the other side of the aisle. "This (bill) is a major step towards them being able to work side by side."
Moffitt announced his intention to not seek election in Illinois’ 74th District on Sept. 20. Richard Guebert Jr., Illinois Farm Bureau president, noted his contributions to Illinois agriculture: "(Moffitt) has been a strong voice and advocate for both agriculture and our rural communities in the State Capitol. His voice will be missed."
Several other state legislators have also recently announced they would not seek office again, including Sullivan, for the 47th District. "It is an honor to have earned the trust and support of so many people in western Illinois and across the state," he said, in a June news release. "I will continue to work hard to represent and be a voice for my constituents in Springfield as I transition to the private sector."
In 2012, Sullivan handily defeated Republican challenger Randy Frese by nearly 13 percent, to keep his seat in the predominantly-GOP 47th District. But he drew the ire of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner by siding with Democratic party boss Mike Madigan, in voting for a state budget that was unbalanced by more than $3 billion earlier this year. This prompted Rauner to visit Sullivan’s district – which Rauner won in the gubernatorial race by more than 36 points in 2014 – and challenge voters to hold Sullivan accountable for standing with Madigan, reported CapitolFax.com’s Rich Miller.
Sullivan, who remains assistant majority leader of the Senate, as well as vice chair of its Agriculture and Conservation Committee, was bestowed with the 2014 Illinois Friend of Agriculture Award by a consortium of agricultural associations representing Illinois farmers. "To have all the commodity groups come together and recognize some of my accomplishments and what I’ve tried to do for agriculture, that’s a great honor," he said in a Farm World article from last year.
At the time, he was working on bills to secure funding for rural transportation and business projects and improve rural EMS care, along with engaging Illinois corn and soybean groups to further the use of in-state produced renewable fuels, among other major legislative measures.
"Ag and transportation issues are issues that impact my district in many ways, and are areas I’ve tried to focus on. My priorities here in Springfield have certainly been what I believe the priorities of my district are."
Sullivan recently champion-ed legislation that allows farmers to use synthetic gypsum on their fields. The recycled coal product can be used as a fertilizer, benefiting farmers, the coal industry and the environment, he said. The measure, S.B. 543, was signed into law by Rauner in July.
"As a farmer himself, Senator Sullivan has been a tremendous voice, leader and advocate for agriculture in the state of Illinois," said 2014 Illinois Corn President Ken Hartman Jr., when presenting the Friend of Agriculture Award. "He has worked very diligently on many important issues to the farming community, and has proven himself very valuable to the agriculture industry."
Email messages addressed to Moffitt and Sullivan’s offices requesting interviews were not returned before press time.
