Jim Edgar is the 38th Governor of the State of Illinois. He was first elected in 1990 and won re-election in November 1994. Before being elected Governor, Edgar served as Secretary of State. Edgar is a past chairman of the Education Commission of the States, former president of the board of the Council of State Governments and past chairman of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition. He also is former chairman of the Midwestern Governor's Association and a past chairman of the Task Force on Education of the National Governors' Association. Edgar began his government service in 1968 and served for eight years as a key aide to leaders in both the Illinois House and Senate. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1976 from the 53rd Legislative District. Between April 1979 and December 1980, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Governor.