Benton Replacement Worked in His Office At Time of Allegations
Jessica Dixon Heitman is sworn in as State Representative for the southwest suburban 97th District Monday. (Photo: Will County Democrats)
A granddaughter of the late Sen. Alan Dixon was chosen to replace disgraced former Rep. Harry Benton, but Republicans immediately began attacking her for previously working for Benton.
Jessica Dixon Heitman was chosen by county chairmen Monday to replace Benton, who resigned July 3 following a Legislative Inspector General’s report into sexual harassment claims.
But Chicago Tribune reporting indicated claims against Benton began in 2023 against a young female staffer. Heitman, it appears, worked in Benton’s office at the time of the alleged harassment.
Salary records from the State Comptroller’s office show Heitman was paid during the time period of February through June of 2023 as “Media Relations and Community Outreach Director.”
The House Republican campaign arm released a direct message from Heitman to GOP candidate Gabby Shanahan in the summer of 2023 in which she told Shanahan, who lost to Benton in 2024, “Harry needs to go.”
Heitman did not dispute sending the message to Shanahan.
In prepared responses to The Illinoize late Monday night, Heitman said she was aware of the allegations against Benton while working for him.
“I was personally affected by Rep. Benton’s behavior very soon after I began working for him,” she said. “I became aware of my colleague’s allegations a short time after we began working together.”
Heitman claims she did not know the specific allegations made by her colleague.
“After months of scandal, silence, and unanswered questions, Democrats doubled down and gave voters more of the same,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “If she believed Harry Benton ‘needed to go,’ then voters deserve to know what she knew, when she knew it, and why she didn’t speak out.”
It appears the Benton issue won’t be going away in this race before November.
Heitman previously worked in the House and Senate Democratic caucus staff and currently owns a communications firm. Her father, Jeff Dixon, is a longtime Springfield lobbyist.
