Dan Hynes comes from a family that has been initimately involved in Chicago and Illinois politics for decades. Most recently, his father, Tom Hynes, served as the Cook County Assessor, Illinois Senate president, and on the Democratic National Committee.
Dan himself was elected by voters statewide to three terms as Illinois Comptroller. In that job, he was the state’s chief fiscal officer and was responsible for paying the government’s bills. Hynes also worked tirelessly to promote stem cell research in Illinois.
Dan was first elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2006. In between, he unsuccessfully sought the 2004 Democratic nomination for United States Senate. Hynes finished second to a then-little known Barack Obama.
In 2010, Dan challenged the incumbent Governor Pat Quinn, who had succeeded the disgraced Rod Blagojevitch and was running for his first full term. Quinn squeaked out a victory on election day.
Today, Hynes heads the Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois office of Florida-based Foster & Foster Consulting Actuaries, a firm that advises how to manage public and union pensions and health benefit plans.
Before becoming comptroller at age 30, Dan Hynes was a health care attorney at a Chicago law firm. He attended the University of Notre Dame and Loyola University School of Law.
Dan and his wife, Dr. Christina Kerger, have three boys, including twins.
