Chris Balkema's Profile

Senator Chris Balkema currently represents Illinois’ 53rd Senate District. Elected to the Grundy County Board in 2010 and serving as Chairman since 2016, Balkema led efforts to lower the property tax levy four years in a row and put the county on track to be debt free through a 5-year bond payoff plan.

He has worked at Caterpillar for 31 years in leadership roles across HR, Operations, Logistics, and Purchasing.

A graduate of Taylor University and Bradley University, Balkema also serves on the Grundy County Economic Development Council and is active in his church. He lives in Channahon with his wife of 26 years. They have two sons in college.