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Greg Harris (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Gregory S. Harris is a Democratic
member of the Illinois House of Representatives
, having represented the state's 13th district since 2007. He was elected in November 2006, having been selected by the 13th district's Democratic ward committeemen to replace Larry McKeon
as the party's nominee on the November ballot. No Republican
filed for the District 13 seat in downtown Chicago so he was elected unopposed. He also ran unopposed for re-election in 2008.
McKeon, who had held the seat for five terms, announced his intention to retire from the legislature in July 2006. He had, though, already been re-elected in the March primary election to be the Democratic candidate on the November general-election ballot, and it fell to the local Democratic committeemen to select his successor to appear on the ballot. Harris, like McKeon, is both openly gay
and HIV-positive.
At the time of his selection, Harris had been chief of staff to Chicago’s 48th Ward Alderman
Mary Ann Smith
for 14 years. An alumnus of the University of Colorado
, he had previously worked for social service agencies.
Harris is one of three openly gay members of the Illinois General Assembly
, alongside Reps. Deb Mell
and Kelly Cassidy
, both Democrats from Chicago. In 2010, Harris sponsored The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection & Civil Union Act (SB1716), which was signed into law on January 31, 2011 by Governor Pat Quinn
. The act established civil union
s in Illinois.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, having represented the state's 13th district since 2007. He was elected in November 2006, having been selected by the 13th district's Democratic ward committeemen to replace Larry McKeon
Larry McKeon
Larry McKeon was an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Chicago. Serving from January 1997 to January 2007, he was the first-ever openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly and was also HIV-positive.McKeon died at the age of 63 in...
as the party's nominee on the November ballot. No Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
filed for the District 13 seat in downtown Chicago so he was elected unopposed. He also ran unopposed for re-election in 2008.
McKeon, who had held the seat for five terms, announced his intention to retire from the legislature in July 2006. He had, though, already been re-elected in the March primary election to be the Democratic candidate on the November general-election ballot, and it fell to the local Democratic committeemen to select his successor to appear on the ballot. Harris, like McKeon, is both openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and HIV-positive.
At the time of his selection, Harris had been chief of staff to Chicago’s 48th Ward Alderman
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
Mary Ann Smith
Mary Ann Smith
Mary Ann Smith is alderman of the 48th ward of the City of Chicago; she was appointed in 1989 by Mayor Richard M. Daley to replace Kathy Osterman; she was first elected in 1991. On February 27, 2007 she was re-elected to her fifth full term of office....
for 14 years. An alumnus of the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, he had previously worked for social service agencies.
Harris is one of three openly gay members of the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
, alongside Reps. Deb Mell
Deb Mell
Deborah L. "Deb" Mell is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 40th district, elected in 2008 and taking office on January 14, 2009.-Early life, education and career:...
and Kelly Cassidy
Kelly Cassidy
Kelly Cassidy is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. She was selected to represent the 14th district, on Chicago's North Side, in April 2011 following incumbent Harry Osterman's election to the Chicago City Council...
, both Democrats from Chicago. In 2010, Harris sponsored The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection & Civil Union Act (SB1716), which was signed into law on January 31, 2011 by Governor Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
. The act established civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s in Illinois.
External links
- Greg Harris official campaign website
- Illinois General Assembly – Representative Greg Harris (D) 13th District official Illinois House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Gregory 'Greg' Harris (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Gregory Harris
- 2006 campaign contributions
- Illinois House Democrats - Gregory Harris profile