Dale Righter

Dale Righter (born August 23, 1966) is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 55th district since 2003. The 55th district includes Clay, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties in the southeastern corner of the state. He was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1997 through 2003.

Righter was born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois. He attended Mattoon High School and in 1988 graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science in accounting. In 1991, Righter earned his law degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law. After law school, he took a job as a drug crimes prosecutor with the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.

In November 1997, Righter was appointed to represent the 106th district in the Illinois House of Representatives after Mike Weaver resigned to accept an appointment to the Illinois Industrial Commission (since renamed the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission). In 2001, he announced he was running for state senate in the newly created 55th district which included Lawrence, Crawford, Clark, Cumberland, Edgar, Coles, Douglas and Piatt counties as well as parts of Champaign, Effingham, Shelby and Wabash counties.

Legislative Initiatives

During his time in the Illinois General Assembly, Righter has spearheaded legislative initiatives on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, school funding, health care and governmental accountability. Additionally, he sponsored legislation expanding newborn screening in Illinois to better utilize current medical advances for the health of infants and their families; measures to expand the Freedom of Information Act so taxpayers better know how their tax dollars are spent; and laws promoting the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels.

As a senator Dale Righter works as a close ally of Gov. Rauner to cut higher education appropriations. In 2016, he introduced a bill to cut funding for universities, including the university he represents (EIU), by 20%.

Committee Assignments

Righter serves on the following committees: Appropriations II, Criminal Law, Environment and Conservation, Human Services and Revenue. He also serves on the Human Services Subcommittee on Special Issues and the Criminal Law Committee's Subcommittee on CLEAR Compliance.

Righter lives in Charleston and has two children. He is a member of the Broadway Christian Church, Peer Court Program of Mattoon, Elks Club Charleston Lodge, Mattoon YMCA, CHOICE of Mattoon, Ducks Unlimited, and Exchange Club of Mattoon. He also serves as Republican precinct committeeman in Mattoon and is a member of the Republican Century Gold Club.