Lillie graduated from North High School in North Saint Paul, then attended college at Nottingham University in Nottingham, England and at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, earning his Bachelor of Surgery in Political Science. He served on the North Saint Paul City Council from 1995–2004.
He is also an airline employee. Lillie was first elected in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012. He served as vice chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee during the 2009-2010 Biennium.
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Democratic Party.
A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 43B, which includes portions of Ramsey and Washington counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
