Grass roots conservative Donald Ray Rients, residing in Benson and president of the Benson Fire Protection District, announced his campaign for the Representative in the General Assembly District 105 at a GOP training session on January 8th, 2022.
Don, born at St. James Hospital, Pontiac, is a lifelong member of the district. He was raised on a farm in Dana, lived in Flanagan, and attended Flanagan and Roanoke churches. Don has resided in Benson for the last thirty-four years.
Don is a Fiscal and Social conservative and believes strongly in the sanctity of life. He would be a strong
advocate for the people of this district, believing in their likeminded Midwest values.After graduating from Minonk-Dana-Rutland high school, Don was employed by Convenient Food Mart in Pontiac while attending college at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. Graduating from I.V.C.C he was employed for six years as a Correctional Officer at the Stateville and Pontiac Correctional facilities.
While working at Pontiac, Don received an Applied Science in Electronics degree from Illinois Central College in East Peoria. Don then worked for Advanced Technology Services (ATS) servicing Caterpillar computers at Mossville. He eventually was hired by an insurance company’s technology department in Bloomington where he has been working for the last thirty years. While there, Don attained a degree in General Education.
Don, and his wife Theresa, an Eureka native, have been married for 33 years and have six children, two still attending the Roanoke-Benson schools. Don has been a Livingston County Gideon for the past fifteen years, holding President and Treasurer positions. He was Chairman of the Roanoke Boy Scouts of America for five years, and past church board and Sunday School superintendent.
