Paul Faraci

Faraci was born in Chicago, Illinois to Piero and Flora Faraci, well-regarded Champaign restaurateurs and small business owners (owners of Great Impasta and Jane Addams Book Shop in Downtown Champaign). Faraci later opened and operated his own restaurant in Downtown Champaign, the City of New Orleans. Following his career in the restaurant industry, Faraci worked as a senior account manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity before serving as a senior advisor to Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. In 2011, Faraci was elected to the 5th District on the Champaign City Council as a write-in candidate in a three-way race to succeed council member Gordy Hulten. He was sworn in on May 3, 2011. Faraci was reelected in 2013 and served until May 2, 2017. He was succeeded by Vanna Pianfetti. He also served as Deputy Mayor from 2015 to 2017. ==Illinois Senate==

On December 9, 2022, Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett died from complications due to a brain tumor. This created a vacancy in his seat for both the remainder of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly and the upcoming 103rd General Assembly, to which Bennett had just been elected. Scott Bennett's widow, Stacy, was appointed to fill the remainder of her husband's unfinished term but was not a candidate to fill the upcoming full-term vacancy. On January 7, 2023, Faraci was appointed by the Democratic county party chairpersons of Champaign and Vermilion Counties to serve out Bennett's full term. He took office on January 11, 2023. Faraci had been a close friend of Bennett and has emphasized honoring his legacy at multiple points throughout his term, especially when discussing legislation to support individuals with disabilities. Faraci was elected to a full term in 2024. == References ==