Hanlon for the Illinois 42nd Assembly District

2008-02-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

Young people do care, and have cared.

Where did this rumor that young people don't care get started? Really, I want to know. I hear over and over again 'youth just don't care, they're apathetic to politics.' This statement is clearly made by someone who hasn't talked to an 18-33 voter in quite some time. It strikes me as an exceptionally easy cop-out for candidates and campaigns that don't want to have to deal with the kinds of questions young voters actually care about.

When campaigns swirl around issues such as pensions and social security most people my age are going to tune out. We've grown up in a time when we know social security isn't going to be there for us in the same way it is for our grandparents. Yet, at the risk of sounding overly cynical, most national candidates feel that because we don't respond to questions made for 40-70 year olds with much deeper pockets that we clearly don't care.

I beg to differ. As a candidate in 2006 I was the youngest one on the ballot (at 22 years old) and had perhaps the youngest average age for staff (somewhere around 23 years old). And we do care, about issues that directly affect us: question about the sky rocketing tuition at public universities, the predatory student loan industry, the job market for entry level work, and the quality and availability of vocational training.
Do not let this lead you to believe that we don't care about larger national issues as well. The average age of an active duty soldier is about 25, a 'young voter.' And our opinions on questions such as immigration and same sex unions are as varied as they are among 'older voters.' We simply approach issues with the lens of having grown up in the 80's and 90's. This gives a different view sometimes than for those who grew up in the 60's and 70's.

If I had my way I would like to fine every commentator and pundit who dares say that young people are apathetic. Go out and ask a young person what they care about; you'll be surprised.

Thomas Hanlon

2007-06-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I will not be running for State Representative in 2008. I have accepted a position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and will be relocating. I would like to thank all of you for the support you offered me in my 2006 campaign and in my consideration of a 2008 run.

I encourage all of you to remain active in public affairs and to keep working for change.

Thank you all again.

Most Sincerely,
Thomas E. Hanlon

2006-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you.

I would like to give my most sincere thanks to all who helped me or thought of me in my run for State Representative of the 42nd District.

I was asked many times what it felt like after the election was over, and to be honest it felt like a Wednesday. I went to a class in the morning, called Representative Pihos to offer my congratulations and well wishes and then I went to teach in the afternoon.

Despite not having gained election to the state legislature I know that running was the right thing to do, that I gave a voice and created new discussion, and truly in democracy nothing is more important than starting discussion.

I am very proud to have been your candidate, and despite what some may say about the final result we did very well and set a new benchmark (38% is a new high for a Democrat in the district).

It is part of my personality that I have no intention of going gentle into the night. I remain as committed as ever to the ideals on which I based my campaign: balanced budget, strong education and a clean environment. And I will continue to work on these issues be they from my role in front of the classroom as a teacher or as a concerned citizen helping to clean our parks.

From the bottom of my heart I would like to offer a most sincere thank you to everyone.

Most Sincerely,
Thomas Hanlon

2006-11-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

It’s the Economy.

My opponent has suggested that professional Economists should be consulted to help us to determine what course of action is the appropriate one with regards to fixing the budget deficit. Professional economists have already been consulted on this issue; I have actively read the works of a number of economics professors employed by universities in Illinois as to what should be done to fix the current situation. They all agree that the state is spending more than it takes in; this does not require a PhD in Economics to figure out, or even an MBA, CPA or GED. And the consensus also is that the current situation is too great to be fixed through simple spending cuts, or a simple tax raise. A combination of cutting expenditures with increasing revenues is what economists say we should be doing.

Among the suggestions is one by J. Fred Giertz an economist at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, is to institute a modest cut in spending and then a regulated temporary small increase in the state income tax (from the current 3% to 3.25%).

Illinois academic and professional economists have been working on the budget problem. We do not need to ask them, we need to start reading their work and knowing what they say and then acting to reduce the budget deficit we currently face.

Works consulted:
http://www.igpa.uillinois.edu/econforum/default.htm
http://www.igpa.uillinois.edu/publications/pdf/Plan-IllinoisBudget.pdf

2006-10-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

Why should I vote for you?

The first question anyone asks is always the same “Why should I vote for you?” And frankly, this is perhaps the best question to ask. It can also be one of the hardest to answer, however, I will provide here the reasons why:

1. I am publicly engaged, I am part of the community and make a point of being seen early in the morning, in the middle of the day or at night and am always ready and willing to discuss issues with anyone who asks. If elected I will not disappear to an office in Glen Ellyn or in Springfield only to emerge during election time or to have a meeting only with businesses. I will be your representative and will hold regular meetings with you.

2. I keep in constant communication. I have never made my contact information a secret, if you send an e-mail to hanlon42nd@gmail.com it is received by, read by, and replied to by me. I understand that multiple methods of communication are important and as such I update my website (hanlon42nd.blogspot.com) regularly, not every two years or every couple of months.

3. My commitment to education is second to none. I am a math teacher and I am a student. I have a unique understanding of what issues face students and educators in the 21st century and I am committed to assuring that quality education remains important and well funded in Illinois.

4. I know what a balanced budget is and I am dedicated to assuring that Illinois budget is a balanced one. We as individuals are generally required to keep a balanced budget and keep debts to a minimum, and the state needs to do the same. And this doesn't take a math teacher to figure out.

5. A clean environment is in the best interests of all and I understand this. A clean environment is good for public health, it's good for peoples spirits and it's good for business. I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking and I want to make sure that people for many years to come can also enjoy the outdoors.

2006-10-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

$3.1 Billion

The current status of the Illinois Budget deficit seems to be the 600 pound gorilla sitting in the middle of the room which nobody wants to talk about. As it stands the state is set to be $3.1billion short in funding for the next year; there I said it (admittedly smaller than the $5billion which was inherited from the previous gubernatorial administration). What the state is facing at its most basic level is a problem of expenditures exceeding revenue, the traditional solution to which is either to reduced spending or increase income. However, $3.1billion is far to great a sum to be dealt with by simply cutting costs across government or by simply instituting a raise to state income taxes. More creative routes should be explored, I would not be keen to quickly write off the idea of a public-private partnership as pertains to the Illinois Toll Way, we also must realize that if a more creative method does not work then it may become necessary to go back to what has been done in the past and that is to cut costs and increase revenue. But what to cut and what to keep? There are certain things which cannot and should not be cut: Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, and other similar human service organizations. By contrast there are things which can be cut such as the pet projects of certain legislators. We cannot afford to loose sight of what we as a society ask of our government and we cannot afford to allow greed and election season hot air to cloud the water. Illinois faces a budget issue, something must be done and it is one of my top priorities to do something about it.

2006-10-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

Doings News Questions, Mass Transit:

1. How can the CTA, Pace and Metra work together more efficiently?
These three Mass Transit providers must continue to work in close contact with each other in order to provide an effective Mass Transit system which works seamlessly and efficiently.

2. Should government provide more subsidies to Mass Transit to make it more affordable for riders?
A balance needs to be found between the fiscal realities of the State and of running a Mass Transit systems and the desire to provide affordable transportation.

3. What priority would you give mass transit in the budget process in relation to education, crime, the environment, health care and disaster preparedness?
Mass transit can have an effect on each of these different areas (allowing people to get to a doctor or to school, providing a means of escape in case of severe emergency, providing jobs, and by reducing the number of cars on the road). However in relation to many on this list (e.g. education) mass transit would have to be of a lower ranking.

4. How can mass transit provide better links from suburb to suburb?
Current propositions and projects being undertaken by Metra and Pace\nare heading in the right direction, westward rail expansion, trying to\nlink suburb to suburb via north-south rail lines and providing improved\naccess to O\'Hare with a proposed High Speed Bus line. These kinds of\nimprovements are heading in the right direction.",1] ); D(["mb","
\n5. Does mass transit need to be completely overhauled to take people where they want to go?
",1] ); D(["mb","\nI would not say that it needs a total overhaul. What is needed are\nupgrades and updates to bring the current system up to date and bring\nit out of the Mass Transit paradigm of 30 years ago and into a system\nwhich meets the needs of 21st century Illinois and DuPage County.",1] ); //--> Current propositions and projects being undertaken by Metra and Pace are heading in the right direction, westward rail expansion, trying to link suburb to suburb via north-south rail lines and providing improved access to O'Hare with a proposed High Speed Bus line. These kinds of improvements are heading in the right direction.

5. Does mass transit need to be completely overhauled to take people where they want to go?
I would not say that it needs a total overhaul. What is needed are upgrades and updates to bring the current system up to date and bring it out of the Mass Transit paradigm of 30 years ago and into a system which meets the needs of 21st century Illinois and DuPage County.

2006-10-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

More News Coverage:

chicagotribune.com/news/local/
nearwest/chi-0610120131oct12,1,4331101.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearwest-hed

2006-09-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

More Coverage:

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/oakbrook/news/75852,ob-42ndhouse-092806-s1.article

2006-09-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

Hinsdale Doings Questions: Transportation.

TRANSPORTATION
1. Would you support privatization of the Tollway or other public/private partnerships?
I do not support complete privatization of the Tollway. However, I feel that the possibility of public/private partnerships deserve further investigation.
2. What is your position on expansion of O'Hare Airport?
The current runway situation at O'Hare International Airport is in need of repair. The system which exists now was designed to work in a world with much less air travel and in order to meet the demands of the 21st Century on the airport additional runways may be the best course of action.
3. What is your position on a third airport in Peotone?
The creation of a third airport at Peotone deserves thought, however there are strong consideration as to the convenience of the location in Peotone for the market which is currently served by O'Hare and Midway.
4. What area road projects should have priority?
Improvements to the interstate should have a top priority as should making much needed repairs to local roads (some of which have become ravaged by potholes).
5. What is the best way to fund new road construction taxes, borrowing, private/public partnerships or some other way?
A private/public partnership of some sort would seem to be ideally applicable to the current need for road construction and repair.

2006-09-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Doings Questions: The Environment.

The Doings Newspaper is continuing their excellent coverage of the election and I will continue to answer all of their questions, and also to post those responses here for those who do not read the Doings. This week, the environment.

1. Is funding and staffing adequate for state/national parks?
Without knowing the numbers directly I will say that state and national parks should be staffed and funded to the fullest as they represent our national natural heritage and perform valuable preservation work.

2. Do you view global warming as a serious environmental threat needing immediate attention, or as a theory needing more study?
There is no doubt that there has been a steady rise in global temperatures over the last century and that humans have contributed to this rise in many ways, not least of which are through disruption to the oxygen cycle (via massive deforestation) and pollution (most commonly through vehicle exhaust). What we can do to reverse these trends is in need of both immediate direct action and further study.

3. Do we need more funding for the development of renewable energy or for more oil exploration?
We need more funding for the development of renewable energy which will provide us with safe, clean and cheap energy produced in Illinois.

4. What should be done to curb the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes?
The best way to curb the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes is prevention. Most invasive species enter the Great Lakes by ballast water from ships, currently all ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes are required to perform an open-ocean ballast exchange which greatly reduce the number of exotic species which enter the Lakes, however this technique is not 100% effective and there are a number of preventative measures under review.

5. What steps should we take now to conserve water consumption?
The best steps which can be taken to conserve water are for individuals and the government to monitor their water usage and to not use water in unnecessary ways.

2006-09-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

More Questions From The Doings:

I have anwered more questions from The Doings which I will share with you here.

1. Property tax system:

The tax system in Illinois may be in need of revision to bring it up to date with the economical realities of the 21^st century. The key question in the property tax system in particular is the current caps which are put on property taxes. These caps should be reviewed every several years from the simple standpoint of inflation, a cap that made sense ten years ago does not necessarily make sense today, and a cap that works today may not work in ten years. It is of course important that the government learn to live within its means and not incur enormous debt that only a raise in taxes can alleviate. That said; it is the nature of public services (e.g. schools, police, fire etc.) that you get out what you put it. If the people of Illinois wish to maintain the current tax levels then it may become necessary to cut public services in the future, or to modestly raise taxes.

2. Transportation:

Beginning on a personal note, as a person whose preferred methods of transportation are bicycle and walking, I strongly support bicycle and pedestrian friendly plans of city design. Public transportation is a valuable asset to the state, and well functioning public transportation systems are in the best interest of the state. Well run, clean, widely available public transportation (e.g. bus, regional rail, and high speed bus) is an important part of reducing emissions state wide and providing mobility to those who cannot afford or choose not to own a car. Well maintained roads are also a very important part from multiple points of view: well maintained roads can be safely shared by motor vehicles and bicycles as well as more frequently used by public transportation while reducing wear and tear on the users’ vehicles.

3. Gun control:

I support the second amendments provided right to bear arms. However, I also support logical restrictions on arms sales in support of law enforcement efforts to reduce crime. I support an assault weapons ban based on history of heavily armed criminals opposing comparatively lightly armed law enforcement, law enforcement should never be in a situation in which they are out gunned and further, law enforcement should not need access to a military arsenal to accomplish this. Fully automatic weapons present a danger to law enforcement officials and are not necessary for sport hunting or target shooting. I support mandatory background checks and waiting periods before purchasing all fire arms (including gun shows) and I also support prohibiting violent criminals from legally owning fire arms. Lastly, I fully support stronger penalties for those who violate fire arm laws, sell fire arms in a way not in accordance with the law, and for gun related crime.

4. Expansion of gambling:

I am against the construction of a casino in the City of Chicago and the addition of slot machines to O’Hare and Midway Airports. However, I support the current “riverboat casino” model in use as a lucrative source of income for the state, but would not expand it.

5. Eminent domain:

I support a very strict interpretation of eminent domain. Eminent domain represents the inherent power of the state to expropriate private property without the owner's consent for public purposes. As such I am opposed to the application of eminent domain where it would be used to construct, for example, a shopping center or condominiums. The arguments that these applications of eminent domain are for public use fail to meet a burden of proof in my eyes required for the state to forcibly acquire real property from private owners. Governments’ right to eminent domain is not one which should be exercised in a light manor or on a whim; it is a very serious matter which should only be applied in rare and important situations.

6. Top three priorities:

Education, Environment (with sound energy policy), Balanced Budgets.

2006-09-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hanlon Answer's Questions for the Chicago Sun-Times

I recently answered some questions for the Chicago Sun-Times which are shown below. I have removed any questions which are duplicates of those asked by The Doings.

Public transportation is a valuable asset to the state, and well functioning public transportation systems are in the best interest of the state. Well run, clean, widely available public transportation is an important part of reducing emissions state wide as such I would a support a well thought out and conscientious plan of an expansion in funding for public transportation.

Politically influenced hiring has been a problem in Illinois for many years. If the current measures which are in place are not doing enough then increased penalties for cronyism and nepotism should be enacted with greater emphasis on ethics. Perhaps all state officials should be required to attend and pass a class on political ethics and ethics in hiring.

Illinois should require full disclosure from lobbyists.

Illinois should pass a living wage law which would automatically adjust the state minimum wage every couple of years so that it can keep pace with the rate of inflation allowing those who work for the minimum wage to pay rent and pay for groceries.

Illinois should provide funding for embryonic stem cell research. This research represents a possible new frontier of medicine which deserves to be thoroughly researched for the promising possible life saving results of stem cells.

Illinois should not pass a law making abortion illegal. The legality of abortion has been upheld in four different supreme court rulings: Roe v. Wade (7-2 vote), Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (up held Roe 5-4 vote), Planned Parenthood v. Casey (up held Roe 5-4 vote), Stenberg v. Carhart (up held Roe 5-4 vote).

2006-09-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hanlon Answers Questions for Doings Newspaper

I recently answered some questions for the Doings Newspaper; summaries of which should appear in charts in this weeks edition. I am posting here the complete answers which I gave to those questions.

1. Would you favor an increase in income tax or state sales tax to fund education?

Education stands as one of the pillars of our society and as such strong funding is required. I would favor a small tax increase to help fund education if it were to be done correctly. I would have to be satisfied that 1) the increase is part of a long term funding plan and that plans have been made for more than just the next election cycle, and 2) that the revenue generated by a tax hike for education would truly be used to fund education and would not be siphoned off for other projects, pork barrel spending, or pay raises for state officials.

2. Would you favor a ³Tax Swap² increasing income taxes and abating property taxes to pay for schools?

Perhaps at the heart of this question lies the underlying question of the equity of the current property tax method for funding education. Using property taxes as the funding source for education is a long tradition linked to the local control of education, however, its one down side is that it leaves an imbalance between the funding provided to schools in wealthy areas versus those in more financially modest areas. Presumably a "Tax Swap" would be used to change this imbalance and right the injustice it causes. That said, I am opposed to the narrowest definition of a "Tax Swap," changing one source of funding for the other, because of the drastic raise in state income taxes it would require. Rather, I would favor a very strictly administered small income or sales tax raise (as alluded to in question 1) to be a supplementary form of funding for education to assure that all public schools in Illinois are of the highest quality, with the best teachers and access to the best resources which the children of Illinois so richly deserve.

3. Would you support any increased gambling a casino in Chicago to provide more money for schools?

I recognise that casinos are rich sources of revenue and can provide a windfall. However, I do not think that a casino is what the City of Chicago needs despite the best intentions of the proposal.

4. Should the state sell or lease the Lottery to provide money for schools?

The Illinois Lottery already provides valuable funding for the state education system. Selling or leasing the Lottery to provide a sudden windfall appears to be a somewhat short sighted idea. While it would provide a massive influx of capital now, it would not necessarily provide that same flow in a decade and we would be back to the drawing board.

5. Should the state remove the tax cap for local schools?

If the state were to institute a small increase in income or sales taxes removing the tax cap for local schools should not be necessary. However, were the state to not enact a small raise in taxes it is conceivable that in the future it may become necessary to remove the tax cap for local schools.

2006-08-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've had a number of conversations with many people over what they can do to reduce the effect of the ever rising cost of gasoline on their wallets. When I first began to research this question I was struck that there are so many gasoline alternatives which are not years and years of research away but which can be implemented right now in Illinois and in DuPage County.

Perhaps the simplest way to reduce how much gas you have to use is to try not to drive as much. In DuPage County we have the luxury of public transportation via Pace or Metra which give many people an effective way to get to and from work every day.

Walking or riding a bicycle are also perfectly viable alternatives to more gas intensive methods of transportation. While working at FermiLab I rode my bicycle from Glen Ellyn to the lab and back every day it didn't pour rain. Of course this kind of solution isn't for everyone and I'm the first to admit that my use of the bicycle is perhaps more frequent than most, however for those who would like to ride their bike to work I will make the following suggestions: bring a spare shirt to wear while you commute and change out of it once at work, you may also want to bring a comb with you so you can comb your hair if it is a particularly windy day, and bring a bottle of water.

Of course there are many occasions for which you just need to go by car, and while there are many alternatives to gasoline being researched (such as hydrogen fuel cells) there are other means to reduce ones dependence on gas. Currently a number of auto manufactures produce Hybrid Engine cars (those which use both gas and electric motors) and FlexFule vehicles (those which can run on traditional gasoline and E85, a mix of 85% ethanol to 15% gasoline). E85, along with soy based biodiesel (which can run in a standard diesel engine) not only provide a low petroleum fuel but are also good for the farmers of Illinois whose corn and soybeans can be made into E85 and biodiesel respectively.

For more information on lower petroleum fuels the following websites may be of interest:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/flextech.shtml

http://www.biodiesel.org/

http://www.pacebus.com/

http://www.metrarail.com/

These links are provided as starting point for further research and do not represent an endorsement by these organizations of me.

2006-07-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who made the BBQ a success!

2006-07-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

BBQ Lunch!

On Saturday July 29, 2006 Thomas Hanlon for State Representative will be holding a BBQ lunch from 11AM-1PM.

Come one, come all and bring a friend! Grilled foods (meat & veggie) and soda will be provided, feel free to bring a dish to share if you would like!

This is a chance for you to better get to know Tom and to just plain socialize!

For more information please send an e-mail to: hanlon42nd@gmail.com.

2006-07-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

2006-06-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Education stands as a cornerstone of our society and is my greatest priority both as a student and a teacher. Sadly, the recent history of education in the 42nd district has been anything but greatly encouraging. The recent cuts which occurred in Glenbard in the past year should serve as a caution sign that all may not be well, and while a solution has presented itself we must make certain that such a situation never occurs again.

There are a number of mandates put on schools in Illinois, yet many of these go under funded and lag behind their potential; Glenbard West High School received an Academic Early Warning Status (AEWS) in 2005 meaning that West “did not make Adequate Yearly Progress for two consecutive years and is eligible for state sanctions”. Much remains to be done to make our schools the best in the world as they so richly deserve.

Links for more information:

State Board of Education
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/

Interactive Illinois Report Card
http://iirc.niu.edu/

These links are given as a starting point for information and do not represent any form of endorsement of these organizations for me.

2006-06-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

June 27, 2006 is National HIV Testing Day. A test is free and the only way to know your HIV status for certain if you're not sure. The DuPage County Health Deparment offers many free HIV services including tests, so vist their website, call their office, get tested and know.

Visit these websites for more information:
http://www.hivtest.org/
http://www.dupagehealth.org/FAQS/aids_hiv.html

These websites are offered as a starting point for information and do not represent their endorsement of me.

2006-03-24T16:36:00.000-08:00

On Transportation:

Transportation in DuPage County can be a hassle, particularly if you don’t own a car or even if you commute daily. A viable and efficient transportation policy can be key to keeping the 42^nd moving.

As your representative I would work with the DuPage County Board to try to improve the state of public transportation county wide to ensure that those who rely on public transportation to get them where they need to be on time will always be able to rely on public transportation.

As an avid cyclist I know that maintaining bicycle trails and bicycle routes are key for those who want to walk or cycle safely to work, home, or for exercise. I will work to maintain and improve the state and safety of bicycle routes county and state wide so that bicycle riding continues to be a viable mode of transportation.

Traffic is perhaps one of the greatest problems facing commuters in and around the 42^nd. As your representative I will work with the DuPage County Board Transportation Committee and the Illinois Department of Transportation to find solutions to traffic problems that make sense financially, ecologically and for safety.

For more information on transportation and transportation issues the following websites may be of interest:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/

http://www.bikelib.org/

http://www.biketraffic.org/

http://www.dupageco.org/dot/index.cfm

A continuing part of my campaign is providing information; it is in that spirit that I suggest these websites as a place to help gather further information. The presence of these links does not indicate these organizations endorsement of me or my endorsement of them.

2006-03-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

On Energy:

Energy and the Environment go hand in hand; a conscientious approach to one can have an indelible effect on the other. With the constant rising cost of energy (automobile gasoline, electricity, heating gas and oil etc.) many are wondering what can be done to lessen the impact on their pocket book and also on the environment. Low cost efficient energy options don’t all require futuristic ideas that are years off, many opportunities exist right now such as E85 for cars and wind and solar options for residential and business electricity needs. As your representative I would work to help reduce the cost of energy and also to reduce the impact that energy production has on our environment.

Wondering what steps you can take right now to reduce your fuel costs and environmental impact? These website are good starting place for energy education.

http://www.chicagosolarpartnership.com/

http://www.awea.org/

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

http://www.exeloncorp.com/ourcompanies/comed/comedres/save_energy_money/

The presence of these links does not represent these organizations endorsement of me or mine of them. They are offered simply as a starting point for research for those interested in energy related issues.

2006-03-20T21:18:00.000-08:00

I am Tom Hanlon and I am running for the 42^nd District seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. This blog was created to let you know more about me and also to let you communicate with me.

I have a very simple philosophy as a prospective legislator: To be engaged with the district and maintain open lines of communication while seeking to advance policies that seek the good of my neighbors, seek the good of the district, and the well being of all from Glen Ellyn, to Wheaton, to Lombard, to Springfield and anywhere in between.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to send an e-mail to: hanlon42nd@gmail.com

About Tom:

Tom was raised in Glen Ellyn and graduated from Forest Glen Elementary School, Hadley Junior High school and Glenbard West High school. He is a May 2006 graduate of Ripon College (WI) with a double major in Physics and Music Performance and a minor in Mathematics. He plans to begin his studies for the Masters in Science in Physics at NIU next semester.

Tom has been a strong advocate for improving science education and has done research through NASA to produce new resources for physics education. The resources produced from these projects have found their way into class rooms in Glen Ellyn, Ripon Wis. and around the world. He has also done research into environmental science as part of a research group at MSOE in the summer of 2005 taking measurements of mercury levels and environmental measurements in the upper atmosphere. Tom is an affiliate member of the American Chemical Society and a member of the American Physical Society affiliated with the Division of Computational Physics, Division of Nuclear Physics, Division of Particles and Fields, Forum on Physics Education and the Forum on the History of Physics.

Tom has been on the executive board of WRPN-FM for three years as the News Director giving news casts and interviewing state and local politicians on a variety of issues. In May of 2005 he was named General Manager of WRPN. Tom has been working with the Ripon College Ethical Leadership Program since January 2006 and has had the privilege of moderating the College and the Regional Ethics Bowls. Tom has spent his time trying to make a positive impact on his community.