Mark Luft

Mark A. Luft is a Republican member of the Illinois House from the 91st district since January 13, 2021 and the mayor of Pekin since April 2019.[1] The 91st district, located in the Peoria metropolitan area, includes 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 (2021-January-13) – January 11, 2023 (2023-January-11)
Preceded byMichael D. Unes
Succeeded byTravis Weaver
Mayor of Pekin, Illinois
Assumed office
April 2019
Preceded byJohn McCabe
Personal details
SpouseLelonie
ChildrenFive
ResidencePekin, Illinois
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1987–1994
UnitArmy Reserve

Luft was elected to the district to succeed retiring Republican Michael D. Unes.[3]

Early life, education, and career

Luft 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]

Political career

In 2015, Luft was elected to the Pekin City Council.[4] In 2019, he successfully defeated incumbent Mayor John McCabe.[5] As early as November 2019, Luft was circulating petitions to run for the open Illinois 91st State House district seat after incumbent Michael D. Unes decided to not run.[6] Luft was originally going to face two primary candidates, Sam Goddard and Corey Campbell, before they were removed from the ballot for "insufficient signatures on their nominating petitions" by the Illinois State Board of Elections.[7] After winning his primary, Luft would win in the 91st district general election with a 26% vote margin. On June 28, 2022, Travis Weaver, son of former Senator Chuck Weaver, defeated Luft for the Republican nomination in the newly drawn 93rd district.[8]

As of July 3, 2022, Representative Luft is a member of the following Illinois House committees:[9]

  • 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)

Mark Luft lost the 2022 Republican primary to Travis Weaver, the son of former Senator Chuck Weaver.[10]

Electoral history
Pekin, Illinois City Council General Election, 2015[11]
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
Mayor of Pekin, Illinois General Election, 2019[5]
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
Illinois 91st State House District Republican Primary, 2020[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark A. Luft 4,530 100.0
Total votes 4,530 100.0
Illinois 91st State House District General Election, 2020[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark A. Luft 29,888 63.20
Democratic Josh Grys 17,403 36.80
Total votes 47,291 100.0

Personal life

Luft currently resides in Pekin, Illinois with his wife Lelonie. They have five children.[4]

References
  1. "Mayor Profile". City of Pekin, Illinois. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  2. "STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: State House District 91 (Illinois)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  3. Kaergard, Chris (October 24, 2019). "Rep. Mike Unes will not seek reelection in 2020". Journal Star. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  4. "Representative Mark Luft (R) 91st District". Illinois General Assembly Website. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  5. "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.
  6. Shelley, Tim (November 13, 2019). "Race For Open 91st District Seat Heating Up". WCBU. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  7. Kaergard, Chris (January 9, 2020). "Trio of local candidates disqualified for primary ballot". Journal Star (Peoria). Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  8. 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.
  9. "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  10. Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois General Assembly. 36 (1): 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  11. "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.
  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.
  13. 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.
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