Illinois Senate President John Cullerton will give the keynote address at the 10th Annual Elmhurst College Governmental Forum
Not long after the November election, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton spoke of moving the state forward. “The numbers on each side of the aisle may change, but our problems haven’t,” he said. “The sooner everyone can set aside politics and focus on policy, the better.”
In his three decades as a member of the Illinois General Assembly, Cullerton (D-Chicago) has built a reputation as a negotiator and a legislator who is willing to seek bipartisan compromise. He also has distinguished himself as a national leader on traffic safety policy.
On March 31, Sen. Cullerton will present State of Illinois: Crisis and Resolution as the keynote speaker for the 10th Annual Elmhurst College Governmental Forum.
The moderator is Daniel L. Goodwin, chairman and CEO of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc.
The Elmhurst College Governmental Forum is one of the region’s most widely respected venues for the discussion of the vital economic and governance issues facing Illinois. The Governmental Forum brings together highly accomplished governmental and civic leaders, business experts and policy analysts to offer their insight on topics ranging from how to foster long-term economic growth to how to resolve the state’s fiscal crisis.
In previous years, the Forum has welcomed Zachary Fardon, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; former Illinois governors Jim Edgar and James Thompson; former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk; Business Roundtable President John Engler; Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael J. Madigan and many others.
The 10th Annual Elmhurst College Governmental Forum will be held on Friday, March 31, at the Drury Lane Conference Center, 100 Drury Lane, in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. The Forum begins with networking at 11:30 a.m.; lunch and the program begin at noon. Admission is $25 and includes lunch. The public is invited to attend. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Elmhurst.edu/tix.
More about this year’s speakers:
John Cullerton: Cullerton first was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1978. Throughout his six-term career in the House, he served as the speaker pro tempore and Democratic floor leader. He was appointed to the Illinois Senate in January 1991, and a year later he won election to the Senate, representing the state’s 6th Legislative District. On Jan. 14, 2009, Cullerton was elected to serve as Senate President during the 96th General Assembly. On his first day in office, Cullerton began a Senate impeachment trial that ultimately led to the removal of a sitting governor, Rod Blagojevich. State Sen. Cullerton’s policy accomplishments include spearheading the state’s mandatory safety belt law, the Child Passenger Safety Act and the statewide smoking ban to promote healthy environments.
Daniel L. Goodwin: As head of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Goodwin leads one of the largest commercial real estate and finance groups in the nation. He also has demonstrated a lifelong interest in public policy issues, especially related to housing and education. He is vice chairman of the Chicago Better Government Association, served on the Board of Governors of Illinois State Colleges and Universities, was a founding member of the Illinois State Affordable Housing Conference and turned around the publicly owned DuPage Airport Authority while serving as its chairman.
