Early Years
Born: August 9th, 1979 in Chicago, IL,
John M. Guevara was born in Chicago, IL in the late summer of 1979. His father, Michael, was born and raised in the small town of Sterling, IL, and served in the Navy. John’s mother, Susan Guevara, also grew up in Sterling, and was the 10th of 11 childen. She was the first in her family to earn her Bachelor’s, graduating as a Registered Nurse from the University of Illinois Chicago in 1979.
John’s parents moved from the Chicago suburbs to Winnebago County in 1983 to raise their family.
Hard work and strong family values were the foundational principles that shaped John’s childhood. “While I was studying, playing sports, singing in the choir, volunteering at church, and performing in high school plays, my younger brother and I were working 6, sometimes 7 days a week in our own cleaning business to pay to attend Lutheran High School. Our clients were mainly local doctors’ and small manufacturing offices throughout Winnebago County. I was always meeting new people, and learning how to open up and make conversation. In wrestling, I contested with opponents from rural Illinois to inner-city Chicago and learned one thing – the things that unite us are greater than the things that divide us.”
Serving in these capacities made John’s transition to higher education an easy one.
The College Years
Princeton University Class of 2001 Princeton, NJ
John was recruited on a football scholarship from Princeton University. He chose Princeton out of the other Ivy League schools that were looking to recruit him, because it was the Ivy League champion, and was the #1 ranked university in the country by US News and World Report. With plans to start an academic career in pursuing history, it was then he was introduced to Political Theory, and Civil Liberties that sparked his interest in the Politics Department, creating the desire to find out for himself if the American system of government really was the “shining city on a hill.”
Soon he was writing articles for the Princeton Tory, a campus conservative publication, became a member of the Chicano Caucus, worked at the Mudd Archive Library on the Senator Bill Bradley project, and was a student manager for Princeton University Dining Services.
“I worked hard, both in school and out. Every summer I came home from school I bussed tables, worked at Sundstrand as an intern in the Import/Export and Data Processing Departments and was an oventender at J.L Clark. And between my junior and senior years of college, I joined the UAW working in the Maintenance Department at Gunite. Through the years I did all sorts of work from administrative support, to checking the accuracy of printed sheets of steel baked in 50 yard ovens at 3am, to shoveling soot in an iron foundry. My experience taught me the value of hard work to pursue my goals.”
Community and Political Life
John’s political and community activity has included:
- Republican National Hispanic Assembly – Secretary 2004 and Chairman 2009-2014 Winnebago Co. Chapter, Organizing member of renewed chapter and Second Vice Chair – 2021-present
- WCRCC Precinct Committeeman – Cherry Valley 2001-2004, Rockford 2005-2022, Roscoe 2022 – present
- WCRCC Precinct Captain Ward 9 – 2010-2014.
- WCRCC Vice Chairman – 2018-2022
- Lutheran Kids Club Wrestling Coach – 2003-2005
- United Way Aldeen Park Dam Beautification Paint Project
- Hallstrom Homeschool Cooperative – Logic Teacher
- Rockford First Choir
- Elected President of RNHA Illinois – 2013 – 2014.
- The Literacy Council – former board member
- SALSA Business Network – former board member
- La Voz Latina – former board member
“One of the best experiences of my life has been coaching kids. The energy that these kids brought to every practice, and the joy on their faces when they were victorious, those moments -they were special. Now, I’ve had the chance to see some of them wrestle for their high school varsity teams. I’m proud to have played a part in their lives.”
“As an honors graduate of Rockford Lutheran High School, who also experienced a great sports career of Freshman Football Player of the Year, 3 Time Football 1st Team All Conference Defensive Team, 1 Time Football All Conference Honorable Mention Offense, Team Captain and State qualifying wrestler, I’ve had the privilege of being on the other side of the teacher/student athlete relationship, working with high school students athletes, boys and girls, and watched them reach for their dreams both in their academic and athletic endeavors.”
Victory was had on November 2nd 2010. John served the 13th District of the Winnebago County Board with Rick Pollack and was chosen by his peers to serve in leadership as Secretary of the Winnebago County Board GOP Caucus. He also served as a member of the Finance and Administration Committee, as the Vice-Chairman of the Operations Committee, and as the Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Task Force Sub-Committee.
“I’ve struggled to make ends meet. I’ve been laid off, and fought hard to make it by until I found full time work again. I know the challenges we face in the 19th District. I’ve lived them. And I fight for us every day.”
John was re-elected to the newly formed 19th Winnebago County Board District in November of 2012. He served as Public Safety Committee Chairman from 2012 to 2014. During that time jail population decreased by over 40%. He also oversaw a data driven evaluation of alternatives to incarceration, fighting to spend tax payer dollars where they do the most good, and cutting wasteful spending by 38%. John served as a member of the Zoning Committee, the Purchasing Review Subcommittee, the Information and Technology Subcommittee (created by the Operations Committee to investigate the Microsoft fees), and the Conceal and Carry Subcommittee.
John Guevara’s tenure on the Winnebago County Board ended in December of 2016. He currently serves Roscoe 12 Precinct Committeeman where he resides with his wife, Amy, their daughter Ellie, and their foster son Theodore. He is the Immediate past Vice Chairman of the Winnebago County Republican Central Committee.