Two Evergreen Park residents are running for the Illinois House 36th District.
One term Democratic incumbent state Rep. Rick Ryan is facing Republican challenger David Sheppard in the Nov. 3 election.
Ryan is a lawyer with an office in Oak Lawn. He was elected in 2024 to replace Kelly Burke, mayor of Evergreen Park and a strong supporter of Ryan.
Ryan grew up in Oak Lawn, graduated from St. Germaine grade school and Brother Rice High School. He and his wife, Maureen, a life-long resident of Evergreen Park, reside in Most Holy Redeemer Parish and have lived in Evergreen Park for over 30 years. They have 3 children.
Ryan has been an attorney for over 30 years and served as an officer of the Southwest Bar Association.
Sheppard is a former police chief in Robbins and has spent 28 years in law enforcement.
He has five children and was elected to the Evergreen Park School District 124 Board of Education when he felt the district was not supporting his child with non-verbal autism.
He grew up in public housing on Chicago’s South Side, raised by a single mother who taught him discipline and faith.
Sheppard said he understands the challenges families face.
Sheppard previously ran unsuccesfully against Kelly Burke in 2022.
The 36th District includes all or parts of Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, Worth and Palos Hills.