Keith Farnham
Keith Farnham is a former Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing District 43 from 2009 to March 19, 2014.
Farnham resigned his office on March 19, 2014, citing health concerns. His resignation came days after federal officials searched his home and office. His resignation also came one day after he won his 2014 primary contest.[1]
In late April 2014, Farnham was charged by federal authorities for the crime of using his personal computers and state-owned computers to trade child pornography. Investigators said he engaged in "graphic online chats" where he bragged about having sexually molested a six-year-old girl.[2] On March 19, 2015, Farnham was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of child pornography and fined $30,000.[3]
Biography
Farnham served in the United States Naval Reserves from 1964 to 1968.[4]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Farnham served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Chair |
| • Executive |
| • Public Utilities |
| • State Government Administration |
| • Veterans' Affairs, Vice chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Farnham served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Aging |
| • Appropriations-Human Services |
| • Disability Services, Vice chair |
| • Elementary & Secondary Education |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Farnham served on the following committees:
| Illinois committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Aging |
| • Appropriations-Human Services |
| • Consumer Protection |
| • State Government Administration |
| • Veterans' Affairs |
Elections
2012
Farnham won re-election in the 2012 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 43. Farnham ran unopposed in the March 20 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[5][6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Keith Farnham Incumbent |
100% | 18,544 | |
| Total Votes | 18,544 | |||
2010
Farnham won re-election to the 43rd District seat against Republican Ruth Munson. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on February 2nd. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[8]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 43 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Keith Farnham (D)
|
8,318 | 52.20% | ||
| Ruth Munson (R) | 7,618 | 47.80% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Democrat Keith Farnham won re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives District 43 receiving 13,038 votes, ahead of Republican Ruth Munson (12,743 votes), and Dane Willman (Green) who received 814 votes.[9]
| Illinois House of Representatives, District 43 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Keith Farnham (D)
|
13,038 | |||
| Ruth Munson (R) | 12,743 | |||
| Dane Willman (G) | 814 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
Illinois Opportunity Project
The Illinois Opportunity Project, "an independent research and public policy enterprise that promotes legislative solutions in advance of free markets and free minds," annually releases its Legislative Vote Card, grading all members in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly on the basis of their support of "pro-growth economic policies that increase personal freedom and reign in expansive government."[10][11]
2012
Farnham received a score of 62.50 out of 100 in 2012 for a grade of C- according to the IOP’s grading scale. His score was tied for the 34th highest among all 120 members of the Illinois House of Representatives included in the Vote Card.[11]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Farnham and his wife, Susan, have one child.[4]
Noteworthy events
Federal investigation
In March 2014, officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations team searched Farnham's home and office, but initially did not reveal what they were looking for. Days later, Farnham resigned from office, citing health concerns. On April 28, 2014, Farnham was charged with possession of child pornography, alleging that officers found two videos depicting child pornography on a computer in Farnham's Elgin office. The computer containing the videos was labeled as "PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES."[2]
In December 2014, Farnham pleaded guilty to the child pornography charges. Farnham asked for his sentencing to be delayed to February 2015, citing his pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis that gave him six months to live.[12]
On March 19, 2015, Farnham was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of child pornography and fined $30,000.[3] On April 15, a state panel stripped Farnham of his state pension. He would have received $1,200 in monthly benefits.[13]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Keith + Farnham + Illinois + Senate"
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Representative Keith Farnham (D) 43rd District
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Profile from Open States
- Profile at Illinois House Democrats
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ dailyherald.com, "Farnham resigns legislative seat after federal raid," March 20, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chicago Tribune, "Child porn charges filed against ex-state Rep. Farnham", April 28, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WGNTV.com, "Ex-Illinois lawmaker Keith Farnham sentenced to 8 years for child porn," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Keith Farnham," accessed February 26, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed December 5, 2011
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, “Official Vote - November 6, 2012 General Election,” accessed January 18, 2013
- ↑ Illinois Elections Division, "Illinois Official 2010 General Election Results," November 2, 2010
- ↑ Illinois Elections Division, "Illinois House of Representatives official election results for 2008," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Illinois Opportunity Project, "The Project," accessed February 21, 2013
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Illinois Opportunity Project, "Legislative Vote Card home page," accessed February 21, 2013
- ↑ Northwest Herald, "Ex-lawmaker Keith Farnham pleads guilty in child porn case," December 5, 2014
- ↑ Daily Herald, "Farnham's state pension stripped after child porn conviction," accessed April 23, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Illinois House of Representatives District 43 2009 – March 2014 |
Succeeded by NA |
