Prior to the change, the four Hoare sons – Jim, John, Bill and Tom – often came to blows with other boys over their phonetically unfortunate surname.

[citation needed] William Haine was first encouraged to take up a career in politics and "make history" by Sister Geraldine, an Ursuline nun at St. Patrick's Grade School in Alton.

He was awarded the Bronze Star[4] for Meritorious Service in Combat Operations after his tour as an enlisted army soldier in the First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) from 1968 to 1969.

He was still politically active while overseas, and from Vietnam he filed as a candidate for Alderman of the City of Alton, losing by only a narrow vote despite being unable to campaign.

[citation needed] During his law school years, Haine met Anna Schickel, an undergraduate French major at St. Louis University; they were married on August 7, 1971, in the Grailville Oratory in Loveland, Ohio.

[citation needed] After law school, Haine worked as an assistant public defender and maintained a small general practice on the side.

[citation needed] Republican Don W. Weber, a former Assistant State's Attorney, won the general election in the Reagan landslide of 1980.

With new found political clout from the close primary race,[citation needed] Haine became a leader on the County Board and chaired the newly created Metro-East Transit District.

Among Haine's most controversial bills was the Medical Malpractice Litigation Reform Act, which was supported by hospitals, doctors and nurses but strongly opposed by trial lawyers, including many of his friends in Madison and St. Clair Counties.

Haine also guided the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act through the Illinois Senate, though it has not yet passed the House.

B. Pritzker nominated Haine for a position on the Illinois State Board of Elections for a term beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2023.