Will County Gazette

State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) is set to host a Christmas Casino Night campaign fundraiser on Dec. 16 at Georgio’s Hotel & Banquets in Orland Hills.

Sponsored by Citizens for Michael E. Hastings, the four-hour long, $35 event kicks off at 6 p.m.

First elected to serve in the 19th District in 2013 as one of the youngest senators in state history, Hastings was recently named to Senate President Don Harmon's (D-Oak Park) leadership team as the Majority Caucus Whip. He also serves as the chair of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities committee along with sitting on the Commerce and Economic Development, Executive, Insurance, and Judiciary committees.

Over the course of his tenure in Springfield, the veteran lawmaker has earned various accolades, including various “Legislator of the Year” awards from the Mental Health Association of Illinois, Illinois Association of Park Districts, Southwest Community Services, Illinois Police Chiefs Association, Illinois Crime Commission and Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois.

 Hastings received bachelor's degrees in leadership and management, and civil engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also earned an M.B.A from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School.