Rep. Bennett to Replace Barickman
Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) has been chosen by party leaders to replace outgoing Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).
While Democrats in Champaign-Urbana replaced a Bennett in the Senate Saturday, Republicans sent another Bennett to the Senate.
Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) was chosen to replace Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) who is resigning for the start of his new term Wednesday.
Bennett, 66, has represented half of Barickman’s district since 2015 after a nearly 30-year career at State Farm in Bloomington. He was chosen over four other applicants by chairmen from 13 counties that make up the district.
Bennett says he never had aspirations of serving in the Senate, but felt he wanted to continue the “good work” he and Barickman had been doing.
“I thought about it for a little bit and talked to my family and decided I have the experience, I have the relationships, I have the knowledge, and I have the skills to help me step up and help our Senate district,” Bennett said. “I’m very excited and ready to get to work.”
Tom Bennett is the uncle of the late-Sen. Scott Bennett.
Bennett will be sworn in Wednesday. His appointment to the Senate opens up a potential fight for Bennett’s 106th District seat. Likely candidates include Livingston County Board member Jason Bunting and former Iroquois County Board member Susan Wynn Bence. We’re told former Sen. Shane Cultra has also indicated he may want to seek the appointment as a placeholder.