A. J. Wilhelmi (43)

A.J. Wilhelmi is a former Democratic member of the Illinois Senate who represented the 43rd District from 2005 to 2012. Born in 1968, he resides in Joliet with his wife and two children. Notable achievements include serving as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee, and membership on Transportation, Gaming, and Criminal Law Committees. He led bipartisan passage of an adoption bill and, in 2018, was appointed to Governor J.B. Pritzker's Healthy Children and Families transition committee. Since January 2016, he has served as President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association , advocating for over 200 hospitals and health systems.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a B.A. cum laude from Loyola University Chicago and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
• Political Experience: Appointed to the Illinois Senate in January 2005 representing the 43rd District ; re-elected in 2006 and 2010; resigned in February 2012. Prior community roles included co-sponsoring a Will County Habitat for Humanity home in 1996 and Chairman of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Board in 2003.