During the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) annual meeting, held July 30-31, three elected officials were named recipients of Illinois Electric Cooperatives’ (IEC) Public Service Award, which recognizes dedicated public service to Illinois citizens and outstanding contributions to the rural electrification program. This year’s recipients include State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, State Senator Sue Rezin and State Representative Marcus Evans Jr.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs
“Treasurer Frerichs has been a great friend and supporter of electric cooperatives across the state,” said AIEC Vice President of Government Relations Nick Reitz. “Throughout his career, he’s been a champion of the electric cooperative program and uses his voice to be a strong advocate for downstate rural Illinois.”
Frerichs, a member of the Democratic Party first elected as the Illinois state treasurer in 2014, began his third term in January 2023. Before becoming treasurer, he served in the Illinois Senate from 2007 to 2015, representing east-central Illinois. His district included communities served by Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative.
“I generally don’t like receiving awards, but I love your organization,” Frerichs said. “I love the partnership we’ve had over the years, both as treasurer and state senator. And so, when I say thank you, I mean that sincerely. Thank you very much for this award and for all the work you do.”
State Senator Sue Rezin
“I’ve always appreciated Senator Rezin’s approach to Illinois politics, with well-informed and common-sense approaches to all the issues. That’s especially true when it comes to energy,” said Corn Belt Energy Corporation Board Director Frank Kobilsek. “We greatly appreciate her support of the co-op community.”
Rezin is a Republican who has represented Illinois’ 38th Senate District since 2010 and has served as deputy minority leader of the Senate Republican Caucus since 2021. She helped establish the Grundy County summer internship program and founded the Illinois Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance, which helps communities prepare for flooding and other extreme weather events. She chairs the National Foundation for Women Legislators and serves on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Task Force on Energy Supply.
“Thank you for this honor, and thank you for what you do,” Rezin said to Illinois’ electric cooperative leaders. “It’s incumbent as a legislator to recognize the value of this organization and what you bring to the table and keep reliable, resilient and low-cost power.”
State Representative Marcus Evans Jr.
Evans represents Illinois’ 33rd District as a Democrat, serving communities in south suburban Cook County. He is assistant majority leader in the Illinois House and chairs the Labor and Commerce Committee. Evans has advanced legislation involving energy reliability, labor rights, transportation, healthcare access and early childhood development.
He also serves on the bipartisan Legislative Audit Commission, became president of the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2025, and is active in other state leadership organizations. Evans advocates for health equity, accountability and community engagement.
Evans was unable to attend the meeting and will be presented with his Public Service Award at a later date.
