About Dan

State Senator Dan Kotowski has devoted his adult life to public service and to his family.

Since taking the oath of office in January of 2007, Dan has quickly become an independent voice for the 33rd Senate district ushering in a new era of progressive leadership for Illinois. He was sworn-in for his second term on January 14, 2009.

In his short time serving the people of the 33rd district Dan has produced results and helped shape the debate on important issues such as healthcare, property taxes, veteran affairs and public safety. Dan has successfully led the fight in the following areas:

• Funding for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder
• Requiring insurance coverage for women at risk of breast cancer
  
• Protecting our children from predators on the internet
  
• Preventing people who are a danger to themselves and the community from purchasing a firearm
  
• Protecting taxpayers through transparent, on-line postings of all government contracts

During his first term in office, Dan was the chief sponsor of 15 bills and co-sponsor of 69 more which were enacted into law by the State Legislature.

Dan currently serves on five committees in the Illinois Senate including his role as chairman of the Commerce Committee. He also serves on the Committee on Human Services, the Committee on Appropriations II, the Criminal Law Committee, and continues to serve as the vice-chair of the Financial Institutions Committee.

Prior to being elected to represent the 33rd district in 2006, Dan served as the vice president of development and public affairs for UCAN, a human service agency that serves 5,000 children and families every year. Dan's role provided him with the ability to move easily between: the legislature in Springfield; the executive suites at many of Illinois' largest corporations; as well as the living rooms of local families to achieve a unifying goal of building a better environment for children and families in Illinois.

Dan is the son of Casimir and Mary (Jinx) Kotowski. Having both studied for religious vocations, his parents set a wonderful, faith-based example for Dan to follow. One of five siblings (three brothers, one sister), Dan attended Daniel Boone Elementary School and then Loyola Academy in Wilmette. He graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a degree in English and Communications, and recently received a Masters of Arts Degree from DePaul University, graduating with distinction.