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Mark Luft

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Mark Luft
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 91st district
In office
January 13, 2021 (2021-January-13) – January 11, 2023 (2023-January-11)
Preceded byMichael D. Unes
Succeeded bySharon Chung (redistricted)
Mayor of Pekin, Illinois
In office
April 2019 – January 2023
Preceded byJohn McCabe
Succeeded byMary Burress
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLelonie
ChildrenFive
ResidencePekin, Illinois
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1987–1994
UnitArmy Reserve

Mark A. Luft is an American politician who served as the mayor of Pekin, Illinois and as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 91st district.[1] The 91st district, located in the Peoria metropolitan area, included all or parts of Banner, Bartonville, Bryant, Canton, Creve Coeur, Cuba, Dunfermline, East Peoria, Fairview, Farmington, Glasford, Hanna City, Kingston Mines, Lake Camelot, Lewistown, Liverpool, Mapleton, Marquette Heights, Morton, Norris, North Pekin, Norwood, Pekin, South Pekin, and St. David.[2]

Early life, education, and career

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Luft was born in Pekin, Illinois. He "graduated from Pekin Community High School and attended Eastern Illinois University."[1] He worked for the Illinois American Water Company for 26 years.[1] He served in the United States Army Reserves from 1987 to 1994.[1] He previously "served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Pekin JFL."[1]

Local politics

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In 2015, Luft was elected to the Pekin City Council.[3] In 2019, he successfully defeated incumbent Mayor John McCabe.[4] In 2022, he announced he would not run for a second term as mayor and endorsed former Tazewell County Treasurer Mary Burress for the position.[5] Luft ultimately stepped down in January 2023. In the April 2023 election, Burress defeated two members of the Pekin City Council to become the Mayor and took office in May 2023.[6]

State politics

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In November 2019, Luft decided to run to succeed retiring Republican incumbent Michael D. Unes in the 91st district.[7] Luft was originally going to face two primary candidates, Sam Goddard and Corey Campbell, before they were removed by the Illinois State Board of Elections from the ballot failing to meet the minimum number of required signatures on their nominating petitions.[8] After winning his primary, Luft would win in the 91st district general election with a 26% vote margin. In the 2021 decennial reapportionment, Luft was drawn into the new 93rd district. On June 28, 2022, Travis Weaver, son of former Senator Chuck Weaver, defeated Luft for the Republican nomination in the newly drawn 93rd district.[9][10]

While a legislator, Luft was a member of the following Illinois House committees:[11]

  • Appropriations - General Service Committee (HAPG)
  • Cities & Villages Committee (HCIV)
  • Economic Opportunity & Equity Committee (HECO)
  • Housing Committee (SHOU)
  • Property Tax Subcommittee (HREF-PRTX)
  • Public Utilities Committee (HPUB)
  • Revenue & Finance Committee (HREF)
  • Water Subcommittee (HPUB-WATR)

Electoral history

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Pekin, Illinois City Council General Election, 2015[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Michael Ritchason 1,889 19.55
Nonpartisan John P. Abel (incumbent) 1,492 15.44
Nonpartisan Mark A. Luft 1,481 15.33
Nonpartisan Jason Juchems 1,091 11.29
Nonpartisan James Schramm 842 8.71
Nonpartisan Ron Knautz 662 6.85
Nonpartisan Nathan Schmidgall 583 6.03
Nonpartisan Bob Kieser 560 5.80
Nonpartisan Robert E. Bramham 475 4.92
Nonpartisan Steve Dennis 349 3.61
Nonpartisan Charles T. Layne 238 2.46
Total votes 9,662 100.0
Mayor of Pekin, Illinois General Election, 2019[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Mark A. Luft 2,000 59.88
Nonpartisan John McCabe (incumbent) 1,340 40.12
Total votes 3,340 100.0
Illinois 91st State House District Republican Primary, 2020[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark A. Luft 4,530 100.0
Total votes 4,530 100.0
Illinois 91st State House District General Election, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark A. Luft 29,888 63.20
Democratic Josh Grys 17,403 36.80
Total votes 47,291 100.0
Illinois 93rd State House District Republican Primary, 2022[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Travis Weaver 7,484 63.71
Republican Mark Luft 4,268 36.29
Total votes 11,752 100.00

Personal life

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Luft currently resides in Pekin, Illinois with his wife Lelonie. They have five children.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Mayor Profile". City of Pekin, Illinois. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  2. ^ "STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: State House District 91 (Illinois)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  3. ^ a b "Representative Mark Luft (R) 91st District". Illinois General Assembly Website. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  4. ^ a b "Statement of Votes Cast CONSOLIDATED ELECTION TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 TAZEWELL COUNTY, ILLINOIS April 2, 2019 Consolidated Election FINAL RESULTS" (PDF). Tazewell County, Illinois Clerk. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  5. ^ Deacon, Joe (November 22, 2022). "Pekin mayor Luft isn't running for re-election. He'll support Burress in her bid to 'stop the infighting'". NPR Illinois. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Deacon, Joe (April 4, 2023). "Burress wins Pekin mayoral race". NPR Illinois. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Shelley, Tim (November 13, 2019). "Race For Open 91st District Seat Heating Up". WCBU. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Kaergard, Chris (January 9, 2020). "Trio of local candidates disqualified for primary ballot". Journal Star (Peoria). Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Dalton, Alex (June 28, 2022). "Travis Weaver tops incumbent Mark Luft to win GOP primary for 93rd Illinois House District". Journal Star. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  12. ^ "Statement of Votes Cast CONSOLIDATED ELECTION TAZEWELL COUNTY, ILLINOIS APRIL 7, 2015 SOVC For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races FINAL RESULTS" (PDF). Tazewell County, Illinois Clerk. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  13. ^ Sandvoss, Steven S. (Executive Director), ed. (March 17, 2020). Official Canvass March 17, 2020 Primary Election. Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 120. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  14. ^ White, Jesse (ed.). "Illinois General Election Results (2020)". Illinois Blue Book 2021-2022 (PDF). p. 418. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Matthews, Bernadette M. (Executive Director), ed. (July 29, 2022). Official Canvass of the Primary Election of June 28, 2022. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 124. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
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