Tim Bivins


Tim Bivins was a Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 45th district from 2008 to 2018.
Prior to his 2008 appointment to the Illinois Senate, Bivins served for two decades as the Lee County Sheriff.

Early life, education and career

Bivins previously served as sheriff of Lee County, Illinois, which includes Dixon. He was elected sheriff in 1986 and served until 2006, retiring as Lee County's longest serving sheriff.
He served on security details for President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H. Bush, Vice President Dan Quayle, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Governor Jim Edgar, Governor Jim Thompson, Governor George Ryan, and United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald. During his tenure as Sheriff, Tim served as President of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. Speaker Hastert named him to the Department of Justice Medal of Valor Review Board, an advisory group to President George Bush. Tim also served on the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, having been appointed by then-Governor Jim Edgar.

Illinois Senate

Committee assignments: State Government & Veterans Affairs ; Agriculture and Conservation; Appropriations I; Commerce; Criminal Law; Committee of the Whole; Joint Comm. on Government Reform; Criminal Law Subcomm. on Firearms; Subcommittee on Animal Welfare; Subcommittee on Coal Mining; Subcomm. on Fertilizers & Chemicals.
Four of five bills sponsored by Senator Bivins in his first legislative session – covering ethics, local schools, county jails and law enforcement – were passed by lawmakers. The 45th District Senator also finished the fiscal year with money to spare in his legislative account – which he returned to the state’s coffers. During the fall of 2008, he sponsored a number of public hearings in northwestern Illinois about the closing of state parks and historic sites by former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
On June 12, 2017, Bivins announced he would not seek another term.
Brian Stewart was elected on November 6, 2018, to Bivins' seat representing the 45th district of the state of Illinois. Stewart took office on December 5, 2018.

Personal life

Bivins and his wife, Terri, live in Dixon and have two married children, a daughter and a son, and five grandchildren. He is an avid volleyball player and coach, coaching at the high school level for 12 years.