If Looking For The Campaign Website, Please Visit:

www.EricReyes.us

ABOUT ME

My name is Eric Reyes and I am running for The United States House of Representatives. 

I am the first-generation American son of a janitor and a data entry clerk.

I grew up in Rock Island, Illinois and am proud to call myself a resident of the Quad Cities (comprised of Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, and Davenport).

I attended Lincoln Elementary, Audubon, Washington Junior High School, and Rock Island High School, which I graduated from in 1997.

I graduated from Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois, with B.A.s in Political Science and Philosophy. During my time in college, I practically redefined the term "involved" with my student activities.  I was a leader in each of the following organizations: Multicultural Programming Board, Multicultural Coalition, Enhanced Cultural Curriculum Committee, Latinos Unidos, and Gamma Alpha Beta. My efforts at enhancing multiculturalism were so pronounced that I was made an honorary member or the Black Student Union and Asian Student Organization.  I was the first ever Multicultural Representative to the Student Government Association.  I was also a founding member of the College Democrats of Augustana.  I was elected President of this organization during my senior year, and during my tenure, the organization saw an increase in membership of over one thousand percent! This was while volunteering 20-30 hours per week at the Boys & Girls Club and working full time. I then went to Northern Illinois University, College of Law, where I focused my studies on Constitutional Law while earning my Juris Doctor.  In my, "spare time," I was a Big Brother to a boy with Asperger's Syndrome.  It was also during this time that I enlisted in the military.

It was during my time in law school that I became the "Northern Illinois County Organizer" for the Obama for Senate campaign. I ran the campaign in Boone, Lee, Ogle, DeKalb, and Kendall Counties. The proximity of these counties to Winnebago County, led to my working a great deal in Rockford as well.

After law school I opened my own law office and practiced primarily family law. I was also retained by the IBEW Local 145 for union contract enforcement.  I was honored to play my part in the preservation and restoration of collective bargaining power. 

At the start of 2008, I became an Assistant State's Attorney.  I was quickly designated the domestic violence prosecutor, and the prosecution protocol I instituted led to a dramatic improvement in the percentage of successful prosecutions for domestic battery, as well as a drop in arrests for such incidents.  Due to my record in the office, I was then designated as the first ever Gang & Organized-Crime Prosecutor. I worked with all local, state, and federal authorities to attempt to stem the tide of gang violence.  Sadly, my time in that office reaffirmed the reality that politics can hamper and even prevent progress altogether.  

In January 2010, I returned to private practice. This time focusing my practice on Criminal Law, with some work in Family Law and Immigration Law.

In July 2010, at the age of 31, I accepted a position as Partner with VanDerGinst Law, P.C.  I am not aware of any other local attorney (who did not share a last name with a named partner) who was made a Partner in any firm at that age or younger.

In May 2011, I came to the conclusion that I could be a more effective force for positive change if I was actually crafting the law, as opposed to simply working with it. In June, I reopened The Law Office of Eric S. Reyes, and on July 2nd, I announced that I am seeking the Congressional seat for the IL 17th.

Later that same day, I became engaged to a beautiful mother of three children.  While my fiance is a shining example of what a single mother should be, I look forward to the opportunity of raising a family with her, as that has always been of the utmost importance to me.

My motivation for choosing to run for this office, as opposed to State's Attorney (I disappointed quite a few law enforcement officials with my choice) was my experience with immigration law.

Too many times I've had to break the bad news to immigrant children that there is nothing they can do but wait for the law to change.  These are children that were brought here as infants or toddlers and told they were born here. They don't learn they're not citizens until they've been accepted to college and fill out their FAFSA. Instead of a call from financial aid, they get a call from Immigration and are told that they now face deportation.

We as Americans should feel great shame at this treatment of some of our best and brightest youth.

We as Americans should no longer punish the child for the sins of their father. We can do better than that. I intend to. 

- Eric Reyes, Candidate for Congress

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