Mike Frerichs has served as state senator of the 52nd district since 2007.  Born and raised in Gifford, Illinois, Frerichs has dedicated much of his adult life to public service. Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Frerichs served on the Champaign County Board. In 2002, he was appointed Champaign County Auditor, winning re-election to the position in 2004.

During his time in the legislature, Senator Frerichs has been at the forefront of fighting to reduce Illinois’ disparity in education funding. As a leading advocate for stronger state support to schools, Frerichs pushed an effort to inject over $2.5 billion annually in new education funding.
Serving as Vice-Chairman of the Higher Education Committee and a member of the Education Committee, Frerichs is a leading voice on these issues and continues to advocate for these causes.

As Chairman of the Senate’s Agriculture and Conservation Committee, Frerichs’ is also concerned with conservation efforts in Illinois. He has been a driving force behind utilizing alternative fuels and implementing environmentally conscious state policies. During the spring legislative session, Frerichs sponsored and passed an initiative that increases the required amount of biodiesel used in state vehicles from 2% to 5%. This legislation was introduced to reduce the State’s impact on the environment, as well as boost local economies through ethanol production.
 
Raised in a farming community, Frerichs knows first hand how important this profession is to the success of the district and the state as a whole. Senator Frerichs is committed to providing financial assistance to farmers and implementing the best farming practices in our state.
Realizing that farming is a very expensive profession, with extremely high start-up costs, Frerichs sponsored legislation that provides additional financial resources for Illinois farmers by allowing the Illinois Finance Authority to issue bonds up to $450,000. These low-interest loans can be used to purchase farm land and agricultural machinery.

Public safety is another important element of Senator Frerichs’ legislative agenda. As a former member of the Gifford Volunteer Fire Department, Frerichs has been interested in safety issues for many years. He has sponsored and passed multiple pieces of legislation that address fire safety, internet threats, and other issues of public concern. This year he was honored by the Illinois Chapter of the National Fire Sprinkler Association for his efforts.

Senator Frerichs understands the need for quality roads and infrastructure in downstate Illinois. As a sponsor of the recently enacted $31 billion capital plan, Frerichs was instrumental in securing ample funding for many projects in Champaign and Vermilion counties.
Senator Frerichs and his wife Laura reside in Champaign, where they recently welcomed their first child.