As many of you may have heard, Illinois 1st District State Senator Antonio ("Tony") Munoz is stepping down from this position after more than 20 years of service, and is not running for reelection. The 1st District represents in state government an area that includes the McKinley Park neighborhood.

Here's the letter that Munoz shared with us announcing his retirement:




Dear neighbor,

It has been an honor to serve as your state senator for more than two decades. It is time to bid farewell, as my time in the General Assembly is coming to a close. In a short time, I will no longer represent you in Springfield and will give my full attention to the greatest job I’ve ever had: a father and grandfather.

I was taught at a young age that hard work and determination is the key to success. I have applied this to everything I have accomplished, especially as a state senator.

I first joined the Senate in 1999, serving as assistant majority leader since 2009. Over the years, I have sponsored nearly 2000 bills, with more than 800 signed into law. In addition, I chaired the Licensed Activities, Transportation, Executive Appointments and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Prior to becoming a state lawmaker, I served in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division and a former Chicago police officer. During my time in office, I worked tirelessly to give veterans opportunities when they return to civilian life and having sufficient resources for their mental and physical health.

I also worked to keep children in school and off the streets by fighting for funding for after-school programs and passed a law making it a crime for street gangs to recruit on school grounds and making it illegal for a sex offender to live within 500 feet of a school, park, daycare, or child facility.

Sponsoring and supporting several measures to protect police officers, one memorable measure I led was the Law Enforcement Officer Bulletproof Vest Act. The act set standards for bulletproof vests worn by officers to ensure protection and safety.

I prided myself in being a strong advocate for law enforcement officials and their families. During the 101st General Assembly, I expanded the use of Police Memorial grant dollars to include scholarships for spouses of fallen police officers. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial in Springfield bears the names of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities, including my partner, Don Marquez.

As a proud Latino, I co-founded the Latino Caucus, which consists of members in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The caucus is dedicated to bettering the lives of Latinos by working to develop and pass legislation that has a positive impact on the lives of the over two million Latinos living in Illinois.

Practical legislation rather than political agendas has marked my tenure in Springfield. I’m hopeful I will stay known as a senator who worked with members on both sides of the aisle.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and the residents who put their trust in me for more than two decades.

Thank you,

Tony Munoz
State Senator, 1st District