Will Guzzardi

Will Guzzardi is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives who represents the 39th District. The 39th District includes parts of the Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Old Irving Park, Portage Park and Logan Square.[1] Guzzardi is a co-chair of the Illinois House's Progressive Caucus.

Will Guzzardi
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 39th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2015 (2015-Jan-14)
Preceded byMaria Antonia Berrios
Personal details
BornChapel Hill, North Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceChicago, Illinois
Alma materBrown University ( B.A.)
ProfessionCommunications professional

Early Life, Education, and Career

Guzzardi was born in New York City.[2] He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, before attending Brown University for college, where he graduated with a comparative literature degree.[3]

He moved to Chicago in 2009 and worked as an associate editor for the Chicago branch of the Huffington Post.[3] He later worked as the head writer for the University of Chicago Office of College Admissions.[4][5]

Campaigns

In 2012, Guzzardi ran for the Illinois House of Representatives, but lost by 125 votes[6] to the incumbent Maria Antonia Berrios, daughter of then Cook Country Democratic Party Chairman, Joseph Berrios. Berrios had the support of the Chicago Democratic establishment behind her, including endorsements from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle as well as Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

In 2014, Guzzardi again ran for the seat in one of the most-followed races in the city that year with the support of progressive groups like the Chicago Teachers Union and other progressive elected officials. Ultimately, Guzzardi defeated Berrios by a 20% margin.[7]

Guzzardi's campaigns have focused on issues of social and economic inequality, and opposition to Chicago's machine politics.[8][9]

Illinois General Assembly

Rep. Guzzardi serves on the following committees in the Illinois House of Representatives:[4]

  • Prescription Drug Affordability Committee (Chairperson)
  • Economic Opportunity & Equity Committee
  • Judiciary - Criminal Committee
    • Subcommittee on Sentencing, Penalties, and Criminal Procedure
  • Mental Health Committee

Tenure

As State Representative, Guzzardi has focused on issues pertaining to labor rights, progressive causes, and assistance for working families. Some of his enacted bills include:

  • SB1 - Raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Illinois[10]
  • SB667 - A measure that caps the cost of insulin co-payments for insurance plans for 260,000 Illinoisans at $100 per month[11]
  • SB1351 - A student loan bill of rights to protect individuals with student loan debt from predatory lending practices[12]
  • HB303 - A law that reforms civic asset forfeitures practices by Illinois law enforcement to ensure Illinoisan's property is not taken unjustly[13]
  • SB2746 - A law that eliminates the “tampon tax” on feminine hygiene products. Previously, these products were subjected to being taxed as luxuries instead of medical essentials.[14]

In 2018, J.B. Pritzker appointed Guzzardi a member of the gubernatorial transition's Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee.[15]

Electoral history
Illinois 39th State House District Democratic Primary, 2012[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios 4,021 50.79
Democratic Will Guzzardi 3,896 49.21
Total votes 7,917 100.0
Illinois 39th State House District Democratic Primary, 2014[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Will Guzzardi 5,316 60.41
Democratic Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios (incumbent) 3,484 39.59
Total votes 8,800 100.0
Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2014[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Will Guzzardi 14,644 100.0
Total votes 14,644 100.0
Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2016[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Will Guzzardi (incumbent) 29,170 100.0
Total votes 29,170 100.0
Illinois 39th State House District General Election, 2018[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Will Guzzardi (incumbent) 26,106 100.0
Total votes 26,106 100.0
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References
  1. Illinois Representative District 39
  2. Jauch, Scott (2019-08-01). "Profiles In Citizenship II: Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi". Medium. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  3. "Will Guzzardi: 24, Ivy League-Educated, and Running Against Joe Berrios's Daughter". Chicago magazine.
  4. "Representative Will Guzzardi (D), 39th District". Illinois General Assembly.
  5. "Will Guzzardi Announces That He Will Challenge Berrios Again". DNAInfo Chicago.
  6. "Guzzardi Concedes to Berrios". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  7. "Guzzardi Beats Berrios in Northwest Side State Rep. Race". DNAInfo Chicago.
  8. Erin Hegarty. "Q&A with Will Guzzardi". LoganSquarist.
  9. "Out of Turn: The Story of the Will Guzzardi Campaign". gapersblock.com.
  10. "Illinois House votes to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2025; Gov. J.B. Pritzker expected to sign it". Chicago Tribune.
  11. "Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he'll sign insulin price cap approved by Illinois legislature". Herald&Review.
  12. "Student Loan Borrowers Protected By New Illinois Law". NPR Illinois.
  13. "Illinois moves to rein in property confiscation laws". Chicago Sun-Times.
  14. "Illinois Legislature Approves Eliminating Tampon Tax". Illinois Public Radio.
  15. Miller, Rich (December 3, 2018). "Pritzker transition announces Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee". Capitol Fax. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  16. "Election Results 2012 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  17. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  18. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  19. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  20. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 23, 2020.


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