David D. Phelps

David Dwain Phelps (born October 26, 1947) is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois.

David D. Phelps
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 19th district
In office
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byGlenn Poshard
Succeeded byJohn Shimkus
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 118th district
In office
January 1985 (1985-01) – January 1999 (1999-01)
Preceded byRobert Winchester
Succeeded byJames D. Fowler
Personal details
Born (1947-10-26) October 26, 1947
Eldorado, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Leslie Phelps
Children4 (including Natalie Phelps Finnie)
ResidenceEldorado, Illinois
Alma materSouthern Illinois University (B.S.)
ProfessionTeacher
Politician

Early life

Phelps was born in Eldorado, Illinois. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1969. Phelps was trained as an educator. After teaching for several years, he became a school administrator. From 1980 to 1984 he served as Saline County Clerk and Recorder. Phelps was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1984 until 1998.

U.S. Congress

He was elected to Congress in 1998 from Illinois's 19th congressional district after 10-year incumbent Glenn Poshard made an unsuccessful run for governor. In 2002, Illinois lost a district as a result of the 2000 Census. Phelps' district was dismantled and split between three neighboring districts. His home in Eldorado was drawn into the Champaign-Urbana based 15th District, while Decatur, the heart of his former district, was shifted to the Quad Cities-based 17th District. The bulk of his former district was merged with the neighboring 20th District. Phelps ran against 20th District Republican incumbent John Shimkus in the general election. The new district was numerically Phelps' district—the 19th. However, it was geographically and demographically more Shimkus' district; Phelps only retained 35 percent of his former territory. The campaign was very bitter; both men accused the other's staffers of stalking their families.[1] Shimkus won by over 20,000 votes in this much more conservative district.

The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General found that David Phelps, a Democrat from Harrisburg, should be banned from working in state government because of his behavior as an assistant director of the Illinois Department of Transportation from 2003 to 2011. Phelps quit his $127,700 post in 2011 in the midst of an unfolding scandal involving similar allegations against one of his deputies at the agency, Danny Clayton. Three other workers and one contractor also were ensnared in the probe. Phelps was hired by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after losing a bid for Congress to Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville in the 2002 election.

Phelps is a Blue Dog Democrat. While in Congress, he was strongly anti-abortion, pro-gun, and co-sponsored the Federal Marriage Amendment.

A professional songwriter, Phelps toured the nation as a gospel singer, in a quartet with his brothers. While serving in the U.S. House, he was the hymn director for the Congressional Weekly Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill.

Post congressional life

As of August 2017, he was serving as a member of the Saline County Board.[2]

Both his nephew, Brandon Phelps, and daughter, Natalie Phelps Finnie, served as members of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 118th district.

Electoral history
Illinois's 19th congressional district: Results 1998–2002[3]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1998 David D. Phelps 122,430 58% Brent Winters 87,614 42%
2000 David D. Phelps 155,101 65% James "Jim" Eatherly 85,137 35%
2002 David D. Phelps 110,517 45% John Shimkus 133,956 55%

References
  1. Phelps, Shimkus Stay Close, Perhaps too Close. NewsHour, 2002-10-04.
  2. Deneal, Travis (June 21, 2017). "Saline County loans money to Independence Twp., ahead of Mudfest". Harrisburg Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  3. "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Glenn Poshard		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 19th congressional district
1999–2003		 Succeeded by
John Shimkus
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