About Karen May

I am proud to serve as a State Representative for the 58th District in the Illinois General Assembly. My activist and accessible form of public service has been recognized by many constituents. Working with my constituents and colleagues, we have accomplished so much as I have advocated for quality public education for all students, a prosperous economy in the State, responsible energy use, and ethics and efficiency in government. But we are not done.

MY WORK IN SPRINGFIELD As a progressive, independent voice in Springfield, I have led the way on ethics and pension reform, battling the system that resists the changes that are needed in these challenging times. My track record as a strong, independent, hard-working legislator, who works both sides of the aisle and stands up to leadership, is needed as we work to regain financial strength.

My work in the House reflects my dedication to quality-of-life issues; I chair the Renewable Energy and Environmental Health Committees and am vice chair of Health Care Availability and Access Committee. I have been successful as the chief sponsor of healthcare-, environment-, and education-related bills that have passed and been signed into law. As the founder and chair of the Green Caucus, I have fought for more open space and acted to reduce the presence of harmful toxins in the environment.

MY BACKGROUND I earned my bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Illinois at 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. For over 20 years I owned a small public relations business employing seven people.

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 ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY 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. We are experiencing a whole new chapter in our lives with our two grandchildren: Jackson, born in December 2006, and Melanie, born in November 2009.