80th District State Representative Anthony DeLuca has been serving in the Illinois House since March, 2009.

With a state economy in peril, DeLuca is taking the lessons he has learned as Mayor and Chief of Operations for Skyline Disposal Company, a third generation family-owned business, and is applying them to solving the state's fiscal crisis through a renewed focus on how state government can operate more efficiently.

As the mayor of Chicago Heights (2003-2009), DeLuca made building a more responsive and fiscally responsible government a top priority. As Mayor, DeLuca reduced the number of salaried employees by twenty percent and reformed the city-funded health care plan to mirror the private-sector. This move made the plan more efficient and financially sustainable. These measures helped Chicago Heights budget remain solvent.

To expand economic growth and create private sector jobs, DeLuca engineered a policy that sold off unused city-owned property to private entities to get them back on the tax rolls. The goal was to attract businesses and create jobs in the community. It worked. In fact, at a time when the unemployment rate in many Chicago area communities was rising, it was decreasing in Chicago Heights, thanks in part to this initiative.

DeLuca is a longtime supporter of a third regional airport in the Southland, and the construction of the Illiana Expressway/Tollway which would connect Interstate 55 with Interstate 65 for improved transportation in our region. DeLuca remains focused on the development of the Metra Southeast Service Line running from Chicago to Crete.

As a believer in open and honest government that is accountable to taxpayers, DeLuca will use his position in the General Assembly to fight for ethics reforms. In fact, DeLuca is a 2010 recipient of the Best Legislative Voting Record Award by the Board of Directors of the the Independent Voters of Illinois for his independent voting record emphasizing open, honest government.

DeLuca is committed to creating safer communities and stronger neighborhoods. He implimented a new alert system in Chicago Heights that informs residents of emergencies in the community, and a crime-free housing ordinance to improve public safety and the quality of life.

Prior to serving as mayor, DeLuca worked to improve local schools for eight years (1995-2003) as a member and president of the Bloom Township High School District 206 Board of Education. DeLuca was instrumental in reactivating and expanding the Industrial Education Program in the Bloom Schools.

For Representative DeLuca, the 2011 spring session of the General Assembly was a productive one. Throughout budget negotiations, DeLuca was a strong voice in favor of protecting the Local Government Distribute Fund (LGDF), preserving a vital source of funding for local government's operations.

DeLuca continued to make great strides on public safety issues with the culmination of his efforts over the past two years to help create safer neighborhoods by passing crime-free housing legislation. DeLuca's crime free housing requires landlords provide notification on leases that tenants who engage in certain criminal activity on the premises may be subject to eviction. DeLuca also supported several proposals aimed at making neighborhoods safer by placing additional restrictions on sex offenders.

To help create a leaner and more efficient state government, DeLuca passed House Bill 1512 out of the house. This bill creates a bi-partisan bicameral commission of lawmakers who will identify ways to reduce state spending and streamline government operations.

DeLuca is a recipient of the 2010 Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leaders Under 40, The 2010 Cook County Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award, and the 2010 Best Legislative Voting Record by the Independent Voters of Illinois.

Born and raised in Chicago Heights, DeLuca graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School and Elmhurst College. He and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of three children. DeLuca has been active in the community for many years as a coach and director for the Chicago Heights Small Fry basketball and is an active supporter of the Chicago Heights Drama Group.

See the footprint of the 80th District