Susana Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Susana Mendoza is the City Clerk of Chicago. She is also a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives
since 2001, representing the 1st District of Illinois - which includes the Chicago communities of Brighton Park, Little Village, Gage Park, and Back of the Yards. She was elected to her sixth term as Illinois State Representative in November 2010 and won the election for Chicago City Clerk on the February 22, 2011.
to Joaquin and Susana Mendoza, who had emigrated from Mexico
in the 1960s. The family moved from Chicago to Bolingbrook
when she was a child. Mendoza graduated from Bolingbrook High School
in 1990 where she earned All‐State and All‐Midwest honors in varsity soccer. She then attended Truman State University
, (formerly known as Northeast Missouri State University), in Kirksville, Missouri
on a soccer and academic scholarship, earning All‐Midwest honors in soccer, and graduating in 1994 with a B.A. in Business Administration.
.
She is Chairman of the International Trade and Commerce Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Bio-Technology Committee, and is a member of the Labor, Public Utilities, Railroad Industry committees of the House. Mendoza has served as Co-Chairwoman of the Conference of Women Legislators, and also co-founded the first Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.
Mendoza was considered a "Blagojevich-friendly" legislator until 2007, when she disagreed with the governor's staff. In 2008, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
blamed Mendoza, along with nine other Chicago Democrats, for lawmakers rejecting his capital bill; he also accused them of holding two taxpayer-paid jobs at once, being paid by the city or state at the same time they collect a salary as a state lawmaker. Mendoza took an unpaid leave from her job as a project coordinator with the city of Chicago when she went to Springfield for legislative business, usually collecting only half of her published $73,000 salary in that position as a result. She replied: “It is an obvious example that the governor is a pathological liar. If he honestly believes, in his lunacy, that 10 people from the City of Chicago controlled the fate of that doomed capital bill, he needs medical attention.”
Mendoza is actively involved in national and international politics. She served as a delegate for presidential candidate Al Gore
in 2000 and for John Kerry
in 2004. To promote positive international relations and better understanding among governments, Mendoza has visited China
, El Salvador
and Mexico
in her official capacity. In 2002, she visited the African countries of Uganda
and Tanzania
as a delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In June 2004, the United States State Department sent Mendoza to Brazil
where she participated in a series of debates in which she represented the National Democratic Party’s 2004 presidential platform.
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...
since 2001, representing the 1st District of Illinois - which includes the Chicago communities of Brighton Park, Little Village, Gage Park, and Back of the Yards. She was elected to her sixth term as Illinois State Representative in November 2010 and won the election for Chicago City Clerk on the February 22, 2011.
Early life
Susana Mendoza was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Joaquin and Susana Mendoza, who had emigrated from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the 1960s. The family moved from Chicago to Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Bolingbrook is a large village in Will and DuPage Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366...
when she was a child. Mendoza graduated from Bolingbrook High School
Bolingbrook High School
Bolingbrook High School or BHS is a public four-year high school located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
in 1990 where she earned All‐State and All‐Midwest honors in varsity soccer. She then attended Truman State University
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
, (formerly known as Northeast Missouri State University), in Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
on a soccer and academic scholarship, earning All‐Midwest honors in soccer, and graduating in 1994 with a B.A. in Business Administration.
State Representative
Mendoza was elected as an Illinois State Representative in 2000 when she was 28 years old, making her the youngest member of the 92nd Illinois General AssemblyIllinois 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...
.
She is Chairman of the International Trade and Commerce Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Bio-Technology Committee, and is a member of the Labor, Public Utilities, Railroad Industry committees of the House. Mendoza has served as Co-Chairwoman of the Conference of Women Legislators, and also co-founded the first Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.
Mendoza was considered a "Blagojevich-friendly" legislator until 2007, when she disagreed with the governor's staff. In 2008, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
blamed Mendoza, along with nine other Chicago Democrats, for lawmakers rejecting his capital bill; he also accused them of holding two taxpayer-paid jobs at once, being paid by the city or state at the same time they collect a salary as a state lawmaker. Mendoza took an unpaid leave from her job as a project coordinator with the city of Chicago when she went to Springfield for legislative business, usually collecting only half of her published $73,000 salary in that position as a result. She replied: “It is an obvious example that the governor is a pathological liar. If he honestly believes, in his lunacy, that 10 people from the City of Chicago controlled the fate of that doomed capital bill, he needs medical attention.”
Mendoza is actively involved in national and international politics. She served as a delegate for presidential candidate Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in 2000 and for John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in 2004. To promote positive international relations and better understanding among governments, Mendoza has visited China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in her official capacity. In 2002, she visited the African countries of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
as a delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In June 2004, the United States State Department sent Mendoza to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where she participated in a series of debates in which she represented the National Democratic Party’s 2004 presidential platform.
External links
- Office of the Chicago City Clerk
- Rep. Susana Mendoza (D) 1st District official Illinois General Assembly website
- Susana Mendoza for Chicago City Clerk official campaign website
- Rep. Susana Mendoza at Illinois House Democrats