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]
Mark Luft | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 91st district | |
| In office January 13, 2021 – January 11, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Michael D. Unes |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Chung (redistricted) |
| Mayor of Pekin, Illinois | |
| In office April 2019 – January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | John McCabe |
| Succeeded by | Mary Burress |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lelonie |
| Children | Five |
| Residence | Pekin, Illinois |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1987–1994 |
| Unit | Army Reserve |
Early life, education, and career
editLuft 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
editIn 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
editIn 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
edit| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark A. Luft | 4,530 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 4,530 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark A. Luft | 29,888 | 63.20 | |
| Democratic | Josh Grys | 17,403 | 36.80 | |
| Total votes | 47,291 | 100.0 | ||
| 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
editLuft currently resides in Pekin, Illinois with his wife Lelonie. They have five children.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Mayor Profile". City of Pekin, Illinois. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
- ^ "STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: State House District 91 (Illinois)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ a b "Representative Mark Luft (R) 91st District". Illinois General Assembly Website. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Deacon, Joe (April 4, 2023). "Burress wins Pekin mayoral race". NPR Illinois. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ Shelley, Tim (November 13, 2019). "Race For Open 91st District Seat Heating Up". WCBU. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Kaergard, Chris (January 9, 2020). "Trio of local candidates disqualified for primary ballot". Journal Star (Peoria). Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.