Mike Frerichs

Frerichs serves as Vice Chairman of National Association of State Treasurer’s Legislative Committee as well as Trustee on the Illinois State Board of Investment.

Frerichs’ initiatives have centered on encouraging savings plans for college and trade school, increasing financial education among all ages, removing barriers to a secure retirement, and protecting residents from predatory companies. Under Frerichs stewardship the Bright Directions college savings program earned Mornigstar’s Silver Medal two years in a row – the highest rating given to advisor-sold plans – while reducing fees.

He was inaugurated on January 12, 2015 and is serving as the 74th Treasurer of Illinois. After less than a year in office, Frerichs was elected by his peers across the country to be on the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers' Executive Committee.

In 2015 and 2016 Treasurer Frerichs visited more than a dozen campuses across Illinois to talk with students and school administrators regarding the frustration and fear associated with the lack of funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) due to the State’s budget impasse. Consumer protection has played an important role in Frerichs administration, securing $2.3 million in uncashed rebate checks from Sprint and $140,000 from RadioShack and reconnecting the funds with Illinois residents via I-Cash, the State's unclaimed property program.

Frerichs announced his intention to run for the vacated office of Treasurer of Illinois in early January 2014, after incumbent Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford had announced his intention to run for Governor of Illinois. Frerichs ran uncontested in the Democratic Party primary and faced Republican Illinois State Representative and former Illinois State House Minority Leader Tom Cross in the General Election on November 4.

In 2005, Frerichs announced he would run for the 52nd Legislative District seat that includes most of Champaign County and Vermilion County to fill the vacancy caused by Rick Winkel’s retirement. In what became the most expensive state senate race of 2006, Senator Frerichs was elected over former Senator Judith Myers by a margin of approximately five hundred votes. as the first Democratic State Senator to represent East Central Illinois since 1936.

Frerichs married Laura Appenzeller in 2003. They had one daughter in 2008, and divorced in 2013. Frerichs stands 6 feet, 8 inches, making him one of the tallest politicians in Illinois' history, four inches taller than Abraham Lincoln.

In 1998, Frerichs ran against then-State Representative Tim Johnson and though he lost, it was the closest margin in Johnson’s political career. In 2000 Frerichs was elected to the Champaign County Board and reelected in 2002.

In the 98th General Assembly, Frerichs served as the chairman of the Higher Education committee and had previously served as chairman of the Agriculture & Conservation and Enterprise Zone Extensions committees.

Frerichs was born and raised in the small farming town of Gifford. Upon graduating from Rantoul Township High School, Frerichs attended Yale University and received his BA in 1995. He then attended National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan where he studied Mandarin Chinese while teaching English courses. Upon returning home, Frerichs began to teach at his alma mater and became involved in the community serving on his local volunteer fire department, on the board of a local non-profit nursing home, and as a member of the Urbana Rotary Club.

Michael W. Frerichs (/ˈ f r ɛ r ɪ k s / ; born July 28, 1973) is the State Treasurer of Illinois, having taken office on January 12, 2015. Prior to being elected treasurer, he was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 52nd District from 2007 until 2015. The district, located in Champaign and Vermilion counties, includes all or parts of Champaign, Danville, Georgetown, Gifford, Rantoul, Thomasboro and Urbana.