Senator Antonio Munoz

Don Quixote Leadership Award

El Valor is honored to present Senator Antonio Muñoz with the Don Quixote Leadership Award at this year’s Don Quixote Dinner on June 23rd. Senator Muñoz has consistently been an advocate in Springfield and a representative who fights for the people in his district, and for the most vulnerable populations in Chicago.

Senator Muñoz is currently advocating for legislation that would encourage and support child care workers seeking to further their educations with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood. He supported the legislation that required early childhood providers to assist all children to succeed, by eliminating expulsion as a disciplinary option. Senator Muñoz has also sponsored legislation that supports families and their economic growth by broadening their access to quality child care through expanded qualification guidelines.

State Senator Antonio “Tony” Muñoz has served the 1st Senate District since January 1999 and will continue as Assistant Majority Leader, appointed by Senate President John Cullerton.

As a former Chicago police officer, Muñoz saw firsthand that crime and gang activity were tearing apart his community.  His legislative priorities have always been crime prevention and ensuring that weapons stay off the streets and out of neighborhoods.

In addition, Muñoz has maintained his fight for veterans throughout Illinois. As a veteran himself, he knows how the strain of combat can affect soldiers. He has championed counseling programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs that help soldiers recover from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Muñoz is co-founder of the Latino Caucus, which consists of Latino legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The caucus is dedicated to bettering the lives of Latinos by working to develop and pass legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of the nearly 1.4 million Latinos living in Illinois.

During the 102nd General Assembly, Munoz serves as Assistant Majority Leader and is a member of the Appropriations, Assignments, Executive, Energy and Public Utilities, Insurance and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Muñoz represents the neighborhoods of Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Brighton Park, Gage Park, Chicago Lawn, New City, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Armor Square-Chinatown, Lower West Side and the Near South Side.