Dave Syverson (born June 29, 1957) is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 35th district since 2013. Previously, he represented the 34th district from 1993 to 2013.
He was born June 29, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Rockford in his early childhood. He attended Guilford High School and Rock Valley College as a business major.
Syverson was first elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1992. He joined a group of newly elected conservative State Senators called the "Fab Five". As a member of the Fab Five, along with Chris Lauzen, Steve Rauschenberger, Patrick O'Malley, and Peter Fitzgerald.[1]
Syverson serves on the following Senate committees: Approp- Health and Human (Minority Spokesperson); Behavioral and Mental Health; Health and Human Services (Minority Spokesperson); Insurance (Minority Spokesperson); Licensed Activities; Local Government; Public Health.[2]
During the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries, Syverson worked on behalf of the presidential campaign of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson serving as a congressional district chair for Illinois's 16th congressional district.[3]
During his time in the Senate he has sponsored and passed over 100 of pieces of legislation aimed at improving the jobs climate in his state, reducing the size of Government, & local Government Tax Caps. In addition, he worked on many sweeping health care reforms including the legislation he sponsored, along with then State Senator Barack Obama, creating Illinois Kid Care health plan.[4]
In addition to his Senate Role, Dave is a partner with Williams-Manny, Inc.,and serves on the Board of MercyHealth.[5] He lives in Rockford and has two children. Syverson is a member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Rockford Machine Tool Association, National Federation of Independent Business, the National Association of Financial Planners, The Board of Advisors for Zion Development Corporation and Reformer's Unanimous International. Under a Charity Fund created by the Senator, and funded by giving up portions of his salary, he has been able to raise money to build neighborhood playgrounds for schools around his Senate district.[6]