about karen may

I am serving my fifth term as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly. My committee assignments reflect my dedication to quality-of-life issues. I am an advocate for quality public education for all students, protecting open space and the environment, providing quality health care, preserving reproductive choice for women, helping the developmentally disabled and seniors, and standing up for consumers.

I have introduced legislation to improve access to health insurance for small businesses, increase school funding in districts where military bases take away precious dollars from education, protect endangered natural wetlands, ban sniper rifles in the state, and prevent the sharing of personal information by financial institutions.

I earned my bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and have taken graduate-level courses. I served on the Highland Park City Council and chaired the Historic Preservation Commission, providing more than 10 years of public service to my community.

Karen with husband Mort and grandchildren Jackson and Melanie.

I have been active in many charitable, educational, and civic organizations in Highland Park and Lake County, including serving as vice president of the League of Women Voters of Highland Park and on the Board of Directors of the United Way. My husband, Mort, and I have deep roots in Highland Park, where we have lived for 35 years and raised our two children, Andrew and Marci.

While being a legislator is an all-encompassing lifestyle, I still enjoy playing tennis and walking to the lake or working out. Mort misses me when I am in Springfield, but he is kept company by our beloved dog, Brandy. We are now experiencing a whole new chapter in our lives with our two grandchildren: Jackson, born in December 2006, and Melanie, born in December 2009.