SPRINGFIELD – The Senate welcomes its newest member last week: Patrick Joyce from Essex. Joyce was sworn into office Friday Nov. 8, at Kankakee Community College.

Joyce replaces Toi Hutchinson, who resigned to become Governor JB Pritzker’s cannabis czar, as state senator for the 40th Legislative District.

“It is an honor to follow the outstanding Senator Hutchinson. I would like to thank her for the excellent job she has done for Kankakee and the South Suburbs,” Joyce said.

Joyce has spent most of his life running his small business. With a degree in Agribusiness from Illinois State University, Joyce has spent 19 years on the Kankakee County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors.