Dan Ugaste
Dan Ugaste | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 65th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Andersson |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Denise Ugaste |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Geneva, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Lake Forest College (BA) DePaul University (JD) |
| Profession | Attorney at Law |
Daniel J. Ugaste is a lawyer, politician and Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 65th district.[1] The district, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, includes all or parts of Campton Hills, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Lily Lake, South Elgin, St. Charles, and Wayne.[2]
Education and Law Career[edit]
Ugaste earned a Bachelor of Arts at Lake Forest College and a juris doctor at DePaul University College of Law.[3]
In the 1990's, Ugaste was an attorney for Seyfarth Shaw, Limited Liability Partnership and Wiedner & McAuliffe, Limited Company.[4]
Ugaste is a shareholder in the Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie and Lowry Law Firm and specializes in workers' compensation. He worked as a member of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board and as a technical advisor to Bruce Rauner's Office on Workers' Compensation Reform.
Illinois House of Representatives[edit]
In 2018, Ugaste was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, defeating Democratic candidate Richard Johnson, the President of the Elgin Teachers Union. Representative Ugaste succeeded retiring incumbent Steven Andersson.[1]
In 2020, Ugaste was re-elected, defeating activist Martha Paschke.[5]
Ugaste won a third term in 2022, defeating scientist and small business owner Linda Robertson.[6]
Committees[edit]
In the 103rd General Assembly, Ugaste served on the following committees: Financial Institutions & Licensing (Republican Spokesperson); Judiciary - Civil (Republican Spokesperson); Labor & Commerce (Republican Spokesperson); Police & Fire Committee; Prescription Drug Affordability; Public Utilities; Civil Procedure & Tort Liability (Sub-Co-Chairperson); Commercial & Property (Sub-Co-Chairperson); Business & Industry Innovation.[7]
Positions & Votes[edit]
Ugaste has consistently voted against protections for workers and LGBTQ people, abortion access, and criminal justice and gun control reforms.[8]
- Voted against prohibiting housing discrimination based on one's source of income
- Did not vote on a bill prohibiting the sale of and possession of homemade firearms
- Voted against a resolution supporting reproductive rights
- Voted against safeguards for older LGBTQ+ people
- Voted against requiring employers to provide each employee at least 24 consecutive hours of rest for every 7 day period
- Voted against prohibiting schools from denying a student their transcript because of unpaid debt
- Voted against expanding protections for victims of domestic violence in the workplace
- Did not vote on a bill allowing school district employees fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to take paid sick days without repercussion if they or their child have COVID-19
- Voted establishing an agriculture equity commission
- Voted against the SAFE-T Act
- Voted against repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion Act, which required the legal guardian of a minor receiving an abortion to be notified of the abortion
- Voted against prohibiting cities and counties from entering into contracts with ICE
- Voted against consumer protections on online retail
- Voted against prohibiting school discrimination against certain hairstyles
- Voted against a red flag law
- Voted against requiring public and private schools comply with Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 regulations
- Voted against amending the Equitable Restrooms Act to allow for all-gender restrooms
- Co-sponsored a bill placing term limits on general assembly leadership positions
- Voted against establishing the right to counsel for undocumented immigrants
- Voted against expanding ballot drop boxes and curbside voting
- Voted against reducing racial disparities in medical care
- Voted against authorizing victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases to collect interest on money they receive from court
- Voted against emphasizing the contributions Black and other minority groups in school curriculum
- Voted against the 2020-2021 state budget
- Voted in favor of establishing worker protections regarding the COVID-19 pandemic
- Voted against expanding absentee voting in the 2020 election
- Voted in favor of capping the cost of insulin to $100 per thirty days
- Voted against allowing student athletes to receive compensation for their name, image or likeness
- Voted against authorizing student absences for voting
- Voted against establishing that public employees have the right to unionize
- Voted against legalizing recreational cannabis
- Voted against establishing a graduated state income tax
- Voted against the 2019-2020 state budget
- Voted against establishing rehabilitation classes as a means to reduce prison sentences
- Voted against appropriating $45 billion for infrastructure repairs
- Voted against expanding voting access in jails
- Voted against expanding abortion protections
- Voted against prohibiting animal testing on products sold in Illinois
- Voted in favor of prohibiting puppy mills
- Voted against expanding legal protections for undocumented immigrants
- Voted against prohibiting electronic monitoring for people who have completed state sentences
- Voted in favor of requiring police departments to keep records on racial profiling
- Co-sponsored a bill increasing fines for motorists who pass school busses
- Voted against prohibiting private prisons and detention centers
- Voted against allowing for a non-binary gender marker on state ID's
- Voted against increasing penalties for employers who commit wage theft
- Voted against increasing teachers baseline salary
- Voted against allowing food stamp benefits to be used in restaurants
- Voted against requiring civics education
- Voted against prohibiting smoking in a vehicle with a minor present
- Voted against requiring public schools to teach about prominent LGBTQ+ figures
- Voted against raising the minimum wage to $15[8]
Personal life[edit]
Ugaste lives in Geneva and is married. He has three adult daughters and six grandchildren.[9]
Electoral history[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Ugaste (incumbent) | 23,867 | 54.3 | +2.47 | |
| Democratic | Linda R. Robertson | 20,098 | 45.7 | -2.47 | |
| Total votes | 43,965 | 100.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Ugaste (incumbent) | 35,206 | 51.83 | -0.31% | |
| Democratic | Martha Paschke | 32,720 | 48.17 | +0.31% | |
| Total votes | 67,926 | 100.0 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Ugaste | 26,475 | 52.14 | |
| Democratic | Richard Johnson | 24,306 | 47.86 | |
| Total votes | 50,781 | 100.0 | ||
References[edit]
- ^ a b Schory, Brenda (November 6, 2018). "Ugaste wins Illinois 65th District". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "District - Dan Ugaste". 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ Ugaste, Dan (October 20, 2018). "Illinois House 65th District Republican nominee: Dan Ugaste" (Interview). Interviewed by Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
- ^ Krishnamurthy, Madhu (2020-11-04). "Republican incumbent Ugaste wins Illinois House 65th District seat". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ Network, Brenda Schory Shaw Local News (2022-11-09). "GOP incumbent Ugaste wins race for 65th state House seat". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ a b "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "Illinois General Election Results 2022". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved February 8, 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 12, 2019.[permanent dead link]