Bipartisan Tributes Pour in for Sen. Scott Bennett
Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) passed away Friday at an Urbana hospital.
A bipartisan list of tributes is coming in following the death of Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign. A moderate Democrat, Bennett was known for having friends on both sides of the aisle.
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, who Bennett replaced in the Senate, issued a statement Friday. The two were longtime friends.
“I can’t believe Scott is gone. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and to me, one of my closest friends,” Frerichs said. “Scott had a big laugh and an even bigger heart. He made friends easily, understood the value of hard work, and was quick with words of encouragement at just the right time. Where he really shined, however, was with his wife, Stacy, and their twins. My heart breaks for their loss and the unimaginable grief and emptiness they must feel.”
Governor JB Pritzker called Bennett a “dedicated public servant and devoted father.”
“Senator Scott Bennett was a good man who always operated with the best interest of his constituents in mind,” Pritzker said. “The entire state is a better place thanks to his service. MK and I send our thoughts to his loving wife Stacy and their two beautiful children during this difficult period.”
Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin called Bennett a “wonderful man.”
“Scott Bennett was the sort of person we long for in public office. He had a delightful sense of humor, the ability to work with people and politicians across the spectrum, and a pragmatic approach to the legislative process. His legal expertise coupled with his life experience and integrity made him perfect for his role as a State Senator,” she said. “He showed up, listened to his constituents, and did the work. You would find him across the table, in the audience, at the meetings and on the Senate floor working to find solutions. People felt a personal connection with Scott, and the only way you develop that is one conversation at a time. I deeply respected Senator Scott Bennett and, more importantly, I just plain liked Scott Bennett very much.”
Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), who represented a neighboring district to Bennett.
“Scott brought moderation and humor to every conversation, whether in a friendly chat, closed door negotiation, or on the Senate floor during a tense debate, including most recently during the floor debate on the SAFE-T Act,” Barickman said. “My heart simply breaks for Scott’s young family.”
Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), who had known Bennett for many years, and the two had even discussed starting a podcast taped a local watering hole called Senator’s Pub.
“Scotty was a great guy who worked tirelessly for the folks of Champaign and Vermilion Counties. I always enjoyed the fact that when it came to local issues, we would work together without partisanship,” Rose said. “I always looked forward to seeing him around town whether at the YMCA or the Buffalo Wild Wings, where we could occasionally run into each other with our kids. The world needs more Scott Bennetts, not less.”
Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said she was “heartbroken” by the news.
“[Scott was] a man who truly made a difference in the lives of so many people across Central Illinois,” Feinen said. “I will miss Scott’s caring, kind manner along with his teasing and wit. He was one of the good guys, always working hard but not taking himself so seriously that he forgot why he was doing the work. Our region is forever changed by his service and I am changed by his example as a public servant.”
Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) called Bennett’s passing “absolutely devastating.”
“My heart breaks for his wife and children, who lost him way too soon,” McConchie said. “Senator Bennett was one of the most genuine individuals and embodied what it means to be a true public servant. Today, the Illinois Senate lost a Senator who was truly serving to make a difference for the state of Illinois.”
