Jim Powers
July 22, 1943
Illinois 19th
Republican
Jim was born in Charleston, Illinois to parents Kirk and Kim. He graduated with a B.A. in History from Eastern Illinois University in 1965, and obtained his doctorate from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign several years later. Having married during his doctorate work, Jim chose not to enlist in the Army during Vietnam, instead taking a teaching position at EIU. During the 1980's Jim became the Chair of the History Department at EIU, despite his well-known involvement in the local Republican Party. In 1992, Jim chose to run for the U.S. Senate in the newly formed region of the Great Lakes.
Facing U.S. Representative Lamar Powers, Jim lost the Senate race 53.24% - 46.18%. He then joined the House of Representatives, representing the 19th District of Illinois.
When he is not working, Jim spends time at his Charleston house with his wife, Ann. He has two married children, and three grandchildren. In his spare time, Jim likes to hunt, read, and visit historical sites around the nation. He also volunteers from time to time at the Lincoln Log Cabin historical site, the Lincoln Home in Springfield, and spends summer breaks as a field surgeon for Civil War reenactments. Jim is also heavily involved with his Assembly of God church, having been a deacon for 20 years.
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Don't worry, I've got a few others characters up my sleeve. 
