 He then became co-owner and vice-president of Sieben Hybrids, a family seed business and he operated a 400-acre livestock farm.In 1986, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives to succeed A. T. McMaster.During his time in the House he praised lifting the inheritance tax, attempted to shorten campaigning season by moving back Illinois's March primary elections and was supportive of education reform with the exception of forced school district consolidation.