Senator, Illinois State Senate, District 7, 2008-2021

Candidate, Illinois State Senate, District 7, 2020

Former Vice Chair, Environment and Conservation Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Executive Appointments Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Chair, First Appropriations Committee, Illinois State Senate

Member, Government Reform Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Government Reform Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Human Services Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Human Services Subcommittee on Medicaid, Illinois State Senate

Former Chair, Human Services Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Second Appropriations Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Chair, Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Issues Relating to DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services), Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Former Strategic Planner, Chicago Public Schools

Former Consultant, Ernst & Young

Former Budget Director, Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations

Member, Alumni Leadership Council, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, present

Board Member, Erickson Institute, present

Board Member, WBEZ Public Radio, present

Former Chair, Donor's Forum

Former Trustee, Steans Family Foundation

Awards:

Lung Health Champion Award, Respiratory Health Association, 2010
Outstanding Government Leadership Award, Illinois Recycling Association, 2010
Civic Leadership Award, Chicago Battered Women's Network, 2010
Leadership Award State Policymaker, Data Quality Campaign, 2009
Legislator of the Year Award, Arc of Illinois, 2009
Legislative Advocacy Award, Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence, 2009
Heartland Alliance 25th Anniversary Award, 2009
Legislative Lifesaver Award, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 2009
Legislative Leadership Award, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, 2008
Legislative Hero Award, illinoisvictims.org, 2008
Activator Award, Illinois Farm Bureau, 2008 and 2010
Kids Count Award, Voices for Illinois Children, 2008

Favorite Quote:

"To thine own self be true and it must follow as the night, the day that thou cannot then be false to any man." (I grew up on this quote from my father.)

"It's what you get that makes a living; it's what you give that makes a life." -- Winston Churchill.