Senator DeWitte Announces Intent to Retire After Current Term in Senate
As you may have heard, on Thursday I announced that I will not seek re-election at the conclusion of my current Senate term. It was not an easy decision because serving the people of the 33rd Senate District and previously as the Mayor of St. Charles have been among the greatest honors of my life. But after careful thought, heartfelt conversations with my wife, and deep reflection on what’s best for both my constituents and my own future, I have decided not to seek another term. At this time, I intend to complete my current term, which expires in January of 2027.
As I look back on my time in the Senate I am proud of many pieces of legislation I passed or helped pass in areas such as transportation and infrastructure development, education reform, public safety, and working to create a stronger business environment. But I believe I am most proud of the reputation I earned as a pragmatic, no nonsense legislator who is always willing to reach across the aisle and put people over politics. My goal has always been to foster bipartisan solutions in an increasingly polarized climate.
Through the end of my term, my priority remains serving the people who placed their trust in me. Over the next 18 months, I will continue to push forward the work we’ve started and will do my best to ensure a smooth transition to the next seat-holder.
Upcoming Events in the 33rd District
My events calendar continues to be updated with additional events. My next two events are Traveling Office Hours events. Please note that I do not typically attend these, but I do stop by if my schedule permits. The purpose of these events is to provide assistance to constituents who are struggling with an issue involving state departments and agencies. To that end, my constituent services staff always attends Traveling Office Hours. Here is a run-down of upcoming events:
- August 6: Traveling Office Hours, Algonquin Public Library, 2600 Harnish Dr, Algonquin, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- August 19: ICASH Unclaimed Property Event, Gail Borden Public Library District (South Elgin Branch), 127 S. McLean Blvd, South Elgin, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- September 4: Senior Fair in Carpentersville, Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 16: Senior Fair in St. Charles, St. Charles Park District Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- October 14: Senior Fair in Crystal Lake, Grand Oaks Recreation Building 1401 IL-176, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Additional events are added regularly, so please visit the Events page on my website to remain up-to-date on outreach activities in the district.
DeWitte Joins Colleagues for Legislative Update in Naperville
Last week it was my pleasure to join several Senate colleagues for a bipartisan legislative lunch sponsored by Chamber 630 of Naperville. My district includes a sliver of DuPage County, so I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the discussion panel.
We had a lively discussion about several important issues facing the State of Illinois, including transit, the budget, healthcare, energy, and taxes.
State Police Graduates Largest Class in 25 Years
The Illinois State Police (ISP) recently marked a major milestone as it graduated its largest cadet class in 25 years with the addition of 95 new troopers.
Cadet Class 150, representing both traditional cadets and lateral entries, completed rigorous training that combined classroom and physical instruction.
In addition to academy training, each trooper will now enter 14 weeks of field training under the guidance of experienced Field Training Officers before transitioning to solo patrol duties.
The 95 troopers reported for official duty on July 13th, joining all ten ISP Troop locations statewide:
For more information about becoming a state trooper, click here.
Illinois Ranks Last for Financial Transparency
In a recently released report, Illinois was dead last in the country concerning financial transparency when compared to all 50 states. Researchers with Truth in Accounting, who put out the report, claim Illinois’ ranking can be highlighted by the state’s delay in publishing its fiscal year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports. That report was meant to be published by June 30, 2024, but the Illinois Comptroller’s Office has only released an “interim” version.
The Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports are meant to be one of the most accurate ways to view the state’s financial outlook. While the 2023 report remains incomplete, the state’s 2022 report included a disclaimer of opinion, meaning auditors were unable to ensure the financial statements were free of material misstatements. This raises further questions about the state’s fiscal accountability.
This report is yet another reminder of Illinois Democrats’ inability to provide basic transparency to taxpayers. Timely and accurate financial reporting is essential for building trust with the public and for making sound budgetary decisions, and I believe Illinois will continue to struggle with credibility and fiscal stability until Illinois Democrats take financial responsibility seriously.