James Clayborne | |
---|---|
Majority Leader of Illinois Senate | |
In office January 3, 2009 –January 9, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Debbie Halvorson |
Succeeded by | Kimberly A. Lightford |
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 57th district | |
In office April 1995 –January 9,2019 | |
Preceded by | Kenneth Hall |
Succeeded by | Christopher Belt |
Personal details | |
Born | St. Louis,Missouri,U.S. | December 29,1963
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Staci Clayborne |
Children | 4 |
Education | Tennessee State University (BA) University of Miami (JD) |
James Clayborne Jr. (born December 29,1963) was a member of the Illinois Senate representing the 57th District from his appointment in 1995 until 2019. [1] The 57th District,located in the Metro East region includes all or parts of Freeburg,Belleville,East St. Louis,O'Fallon,Madison,Fairview Heights,Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base. [2]
At the time of his retirement,Clayborne was the second highest-ranking member of the Illinois Senate as the Senate Majority Leader. [3] On September 21,2017,Clayborne announced he would not run for reelection in 2018. [4] He was succeeded by Christopher Belt. [5]
Senator Clayborne was born and raised in East St. Louis. [6] After graduating from East St. Louis High School, [7] he earned a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University and later a law degree from the University of Miami. [1] While at the University of Miami,he met his future wife Staci,with whom he now has four sons. [6] [7]
He went on to serve as an assistant state’s attorney in St. Clair County as well as a child support prosecutor,a supervisor in the St. Clair County Juvenile Abuse and Neglect Division,a supervisor in Felony Probation Revocations and a felony prosecutor. [8] He also was one of 50 attorneys selected nationwide to participate in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Law Institute in Quantico,Virginia. [8] He later chose to enter private practice [6]
In 1995,Clayborne was appointed to complete the term of longtime Senator Kenneth Hall and was later elected in his own right in 1996. [7] In 2009,he became the Senate Majority Leader after finishing second to John Cullerton in the race for Senate President. [9]
Clayborne is the current chair of the Assignments Committee as well as the committees on Energy,Executive Appointments,Insurance,Public Pensions &State Investments and the subcommittees on Governmental Operations and Constitutional Amendments. [1]
Clayborne also served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. [10]
Clayborne was succeed in the Illinois Senate by Christopher Belt and as Majority Leader by Kimberly A. Lightford. [11]