Dixon Mayor Li Arellano, Jr., is running for Illinois Senate.
He aims to succeed fellow Republican Tim Bivins, who is retiring.
Arellano is an Iraq War veteran and Dixon native who first ran for Mayor in 2015. This was when former city Comptroller Rita Crundwell was revealed to have embezzled nearly $54 million from the city.
“I have immense respect for Senator Bivins and his legacy as a citizen-legislator," Arellano said. "He truly is a man of integrity who represented our district well.”
The 45th district includes areas in Winnebago, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside counties.