Burzynski announces run for another term

SYCAMORE—State Senator J. Bradley Burzynski (R-Sycamore) will seek re-election to the 35^th District Senate seat in the 2008 election.

“Serving the 35^th District has been a privilege and an honor. While much has been accomplished for the district, there is still more that I can do for my constituents, especially in light of the state’s fiscal problems,” he said.

Sen. Burzynski has represented the 35^th District in the Illinois Senate since 1993. He previously represented the 76^th House District, from 1990-93.

As a senior member of the Senate Republicans, Burzynski’s responsibilities in Springfield have expanded with appointments to leadership. In January, 2007, he was named Assistant Senate Republican Leader by Frank Watson, Senate Republican Leader. Prior to that, he served as Senate Republican Caucus Chairman since 2003.

Sen. Burzynski serves on the Executive, Housing/Community Affairs, Pensions/Investments, Education and Higher Education committees. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

“Springfield is where a majority of the actual lawmaking takes place, but that’s only part of my job as an elected official,” Sen. Burzynski said.

“The real work is done in the district, where I learn about what affects the people who elect me. They are the reason I am in Springfield and that’s something I always remember.”

The 35^th District includes all of Boone and DeKalb counties, and portions of LaSalle, Ogle and Winnebago counties.

As a legislator, Sen. Burzynski has fought to improve the overall quality of education, relieve the property tax burden, and protect Illinois families.

He was named “Friend of Education” by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, and has worked tirelessly to reform the way public education is funded in Illinois.

A long-time supporter of a property tax-income tax swap for education funding, Sen. Burzynski believes today’s education funding formula places too much of a burden on home owners.

Sen. Burzynski also was instrumental in passing legislation to establish separate governing boards for state universities to provide a higher quality of education.

He has been extremely supportive of the higher education community, specifically Northern Illinois University and the region’s community colleges.

Sen. Burzynski led the effort to expand health care options in rural areas by licensing advanced practice nurses in Illinois. That legislation allows rural communities with limited access to doctors to get quality health care from qualified nursing professionals when their supervising doctor is not available.

For his work on that issue, he was recognized by the Illinois Nurses’ Association as its “Legislator of the Year.”

Among other important bills, Sen. Burzynski sponsored and passed laws to address an impending nursing shortage nationwide and improve the quality of nursing care in Illinois. By varying the types and amounts of nursing scholarships offered in Illinois, his law not only will attract qualified students to enter the nursing profession, but will ensure they practice direct care nursing in Illinois after graduating.

Burzynski has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the Illinois Association of County Officials, Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, Illinois Optometry Association, and the Illinois Manufactured Home Association, and ABATE, among others.

He also has been recognized by DeKalb County Family Service Agency, DeKalb County Social Workers, NIU School of Nursing, Statewide Coalition on Human Services, Illinois Farm Bureau as a “Friend of Agriculture,” IMRF, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing, Family PAC, and the Illinois Healthcare Association.

Sen. Burzynski lives in Clare with his wife, Judy. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.