Senator Harmon always likes hearing from his constituents. Frequently, the best way to reach Senator Harmon is by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., particularly during legislative sessions which run from January through May. Below is information on contacting Senator Harmon at his Constituent Service Office in Oak Park and his Springfield Office at the Illinois Capitol Building.

Senator Don Harmon's Constituent Service Office
6933 W. North Avenue
Oak Park, Illinois 60302
Phone: (708) 848-2002
Fax: (708) 848-2022

Senator Don Harmon's Springfield Office
329 Capitol Building
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Phone: (217) 782-8176

Contact Senator Don Harmon by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Robert "Rob" Baren - District Director
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Robert "Rob" Baren has served as Senator Harmon's District Director since the Senator was sworn into office in January, 2003.  Before working for Harmon, Rob worked as a clerk at the law firm of McDermott, Will and Emery, where he served as a clerk for former Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan.

Rob was raised in Oak Park, and is a 1992 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School.  He has volunteered his time with the Chicago MS Society, the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Team, and as community organizer, advocating for an environmental clean-up of an Oak Park public park.  An avid motorcyclist, Rob serves as Director of the Oak Park, IL Chapter of the Harley Owners Group.

Katherine Oehlert Galloway - Legislative Assistant, Springfield Office
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Katherine Galloway joined Senator Harmon's staff in April of 2007 as his Legislative Assistant in Springfield.  She manages all of the legislative and administrative functions in Senator Harmon's office in the Capitol.  Some of her duties include processing and tracking the Senator's bills, amendments, and resolutions and assisting constituents.

Katherine graduated in 2006 from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, with a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Government.  Prior to beginning with Senator Harmon, she was an intern with Midwest Academy and Citizen Action Illinois and also the Habitat for Humanity office in Bloomington-Normal.  Outside of work, Katherine enjoys spending time with her husband Phil and their two dogs, running, yoga, cooking/baking and traveling whenever she gets the chance!

Cara Caldbeck - Legislative Assistant, Constituent Service Office
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Cara Caldbeck joined Senator Harmon's staff part-time in April of 2003.  She now works full-time coordinating constituent service and the day-to-day operation of Senator Harmon's district office. Her English degree has proved to be useful in drafting and editing the many letters and publications produced there.  Some of her other duties include assisting constituents, tracking the Senator's bills, and managing the General Assembly Scholarship program.

Outside of work, Cara tries to take full advantage of what Theodore Dreiser called the "great, pleasing metropolis" on her doorstep.

Senator Don Harmon and his family have deep roots in the 39^th Legislative District.  Harmon was born and raised in Oak Park.  Harmon remains in the community, where he and his wife Teri are raising their three young children. He attended St. Giles Grade School, and is a member of the parish today.

With the help of family and scholarships, Harmon graduated from St. Ignatius High School on Chicago's west side, and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.  Harmon worked his way through the University of Chicago, where he received both a law degree and an MBA.

After law school, Harmon served in Springfield on the House legal staff.  When he returned home, he based his law practice on creating public-private partnerships to bring billions of dollars of infrastructure improvements to the Chicago area.  In his spare time, Harmon volunteered with Street Level Youth Media and the Steckman Studio of Music helping at-risk children and teens.

First elected in the fall of 2002, Harmon has promoted a progressive agenda in the Illinois Senate, advocating for better opportunities for our children, greater access to affordable healthcare, improved government oversight and ethics reform, strengthened civil rights, substantive environmental protections, and economic opportunity for all.

Harmon sponsored legislation creating the Illinois Early Learning council to create policy recommendations regarding the education of children from birth to age five.  The result of that effort was the Pre-School for All program, which significantly expanded access to pre-school opportunities for thousands of Illinois families.

Harmon also sponsored legislation to authorize local governments to enhance funding for special recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities.

Inspired by a constituent's battle with post-partum depression, Harmon sponsored Senate Bill 15, which proves for perinatal mental health awareness, treatment, and prevention.  This groundbreaking initiative would link efforts by medical professionals and governmental agencies to guard families against the crippling burdens of perinatal mental health disorders.

He assisted in creating the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Program to provide senior citizens and people with disabilities with significant discounts on their prescription drugs.

Harmon was the primary Senate negotiator of House Bill 824-landmark ethics legislation to end Illinois' reputation for "pay-to-play" politics.  The legislation prohibits state contractors from making a contribution to the office holders who gave them the contract.

Senator Harmon helped pass legislation to eliminate two obsolete taxing districts-the Cook County Tuberculosis Sanitarium District and the Cicero Township Trustee of Schools-thereby saving taxpayers millions of dollars and streamlining government services.  He is currently sponsoring legislation to separate the Cook County Forest Preserve District from the Cook County Board of Commissioners to ensure a more focused stewardship of local green space.

He authored the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003 to prohibit discriminatory policies by State, county or local governments, and to preserve for Illinois citizens civil rights protections eroded by recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.  Also in 2003, Harmon co-sponsored legislation creating the Equal Pay Act to ensure women in Illinois receive equal pay for equal work.  Additionally, he sponsored the "Right to Breastfeed" Act to protect nursing mothers from discrimination.

In response to the change in electric rates, Harmon joined fellow legislators in supporting a $1 billion electric rate relief package which offered significant discounts and credits for electric bills.  As a part of the relief package, Harmon included a requirement that 25% of the state's power be generated by renewable sources by the year 2025, and that energy efficiency initiatives be implemented immediately by the utilities to reduce demand for electric power.

Harmon assisted low-income families by co-sponsoring legislation requiring the Department of Human Services to update the income threshold so more families will be eligible for child care services; supporting legislation raising the minimum wage to $6.50 an hour, giving almost half a million Illinoisans a raise; and  amending the Illinois Guaranteed Job Opportunity Act to permit pilot programs on Chicago's west side, creating subsidized employment training opportunities for residents of his district.

Additionally, Harmon sponsored legislation to modernize O'Hare International Airport, which is located in his district.  This upgrade is projected to create 195,000 jobs and generate more than $18 billion annually in economic development.

Senator Don Harmon is currently serving his fourth term in the Illinois Senate.  In January of 2009, incoming Senate President John Cullerton appointed Harmon Assistant Majority Leader, and in 2011 Senate President Cullerton appointed Harmon President Pro Tempore.  Senator Harmon serves as Chair of the Executive Committee,  Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Vice-Chair of the Assignments Committee.

In January 2020, Don Harmon was first elected by his colleagues to serve as the 39^th President of the Illinois Senate, vowing to lead a new era of ethical progress as the Senate works to rebuild trust in public service and rationalize state tax policy.

Harmon was almost immediately tasked with guiding the Senate through a global pandemic. He took steps to keep members, staff and their families safe, and he oversaw rule changes to ensure the Senate could convene remotely, allowing vital business to continue.

Harmon, an Oak Park native, was first elected to the Illinois Senate in the fall of 2002.

He represents the 39th Senate District, which consists of Oak Park, parts of the city of Chicago, and other suburbs, including Addison, Bensenville and Franklin Park.

During his time in the General Assembly, he championed early childhood education, ethics reform, curbing gun violence, protecting civil rights and expanding voter access.

He also worked to protect Illinois’ natural resources, promote renewable energy and enhancing economic opportunity for all.

Harmon was an early supporter of Preschool for All programs and sponsored the Illinois Early Learning Council.

In the Senate, he previously served as president pro tempore and chaired the influential Executive Committee.

One of his first moves as Senate President was to leave his private sector job at the prestigious law firm of Burke Burns & Pinelli in order to focus full-time on the Senate and his new leadership post.

Harmon has an undergraduate degree in English and economics from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and a law degree and MBA from the University of Chicago.

In addition, Harmon was a founding member of the Boat Drink Caucus band, a bipartisan group of lawmakers who set aside politics to perform at small venues across the state.

He and his wife, Teresa, are the parents of three children: Don, Frances and Margaret.