Scott M. Bennett


Scott Michael Bennett was an American attorney, politician and Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 52nd district from 2015 to 2022.

Early life

Bennett was born in Gibson City, Illinois, and moved to Champaign to attend law school. He was married with two children. Bennett worked as a prosecutor with the Office of the Champaign County State's Attorney.

Illinois Senate

Bennett was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Mike Frerichs, who resigned from representing the 52nd legislative district after he was elected Treasurer of Illinois in the 2014 general election. The 52nd district, located in Central Illinois, includes the towns of Champaign, Danville, Georgetown, Gifford, Rantoul, Thomasboro, and Urbana. His uncle Thomas M. Bennett also served in the Illinois General Assembly. Stacy Bennett succeeded Scott Bennett for the remainder of the 102nd General Assembly. On January 7, 2023, Paul Faraci, the Champaign Township Assessor, was appointed to fill the vacancy in the 103rd General Assembly created by Bennett's death.

Committee assignments

During the 102nd General Assembly, Senator Bennett was a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:
Bennett died from complications of a brain tumor in Urbana, Illinois, on December 9, 2022, at the age of 45. In 2025, the Scott M. Bennett Administrative Building, a county administrative center, was named in his honor.