Suzi Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Suzi Schmidt is a Republican
Illinois State Senator
, representing the 31st district since her inauguration in January 2011. She previously served as Chairman of the Board of Lake County, Illinois
from 2000 to 2010.
Schmidt was elected to the Lake County Board in 1988, representing the communities of Lake Villa
and Lindenhurst
. In 1988 she also became the Commissioner of the Lake County Forest Preserve, a position she held from 1988 to 2010. She was elected as Chairman of the Lake County Board in 2000, replacing incumbent Jim LaBelle. Schmidt was the first female Chairman of Lake County, and is notable for presiding over a decade during which the County Board consistently passed balanced budgets. Schmidt resigned from the County Board in January 2011 to assume her new position as an Illinois State Senator.
after defeating Democratic
incumbent Michael Bond
with just over 53% of the popular vote.
Schmidt sponsored an amendment to the Deposit of State Moneys Act which places restrictions on the Illinois Treasurer's power to invest state funds. The bill passed both Houses of the Illinois General Assembly
and was sent to the office of the Governor
. She also acted as the chief Senate sponsor of a bill which authorizes law enforcement agencies to collect pharmaceuticals for safe disposal.
Schmidt was a co-sponsor to legislation which would have allowed the practice of concealed carry
in Illinois
. She also co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution introduced by Democratic
Senator Kwame Raoul
which would amended the Illinois Constitution
to consolidate the positions of State Treasurer and State Comptroller.
In 2011 Schmidt was appointed to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which provides the Legislature with research and information regarding state and national economies, revenue projections and operations of Illinois Government. She was also appointed to the Illinois Council on Aging during her first year in office.
In September 2011, the Illinois Environmental Council, a state environmental advocacy group, awarded Schmidt the Environmental Leadership Award for her work with the Lake County Forest Preserve.
.
On August 16, 2011, police were called to the Schmidt home by Bob Schmidt regarding a domestic dispute. Police did not release further details on the ongoing investigation of what they called a "verbal argument." As of August 19, 2011, no further details had been released regarding the verbal argument.
The police were again called to the Schmidt home twice in September 2011. The last 911 call made on September 26 was recorded, and has led to implications that Schmidt may have intended to use her political position to influence Lake County authorities against intervening in the matter. Schmidt later issued a press release to deny that this was her intent and apologize for the perceived inappropriateness of the comments. Robert Schmidt consistently conveyed to the media that he considered the affair to be a private matter and did not wish to comment further.
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...
Illinois State Senator
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
, representing the 31st district since her inauguration in January 2011. She previously served as Chairman of the Board of Lake County, Illinois
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
from 2000 to 2010.
Education and early career
Schmidt earned a bachelor's degree at Southern Illinois University.Schmidt was elected to the Lake County Board in 1988, representing the communities of Lake Villa
Lake Villa, Illinois
Lake Villa is a village in Lake County, Illinois United States. The population was 5,864 at the 2000 census. Lake Villa lies within Lake Villa Township...
and Lindenhurst
Lindenhurst, Illinois
Lindenhurst is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,539 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 14,403 as of 2005...
. In 1988 she also became the Commissioner of the Lake County Forest Preserve, a position she held from 1988 to 2010. She was elected as Chairman of the Lake County Board in 2000, replacing incumbent Jim LaBelle. Schmidt was the first female Chairman of Lake County, and is notable for presiding over a decade during which the County Board consistently passed balanced budgets. Schmidt resigned from the County Board in January 2011 to assume her new position as an Illinois State Senator.
Election
Schmidt was elected in 2010Illinois Senate elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Illinois Senate will be conducted on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. The 2010 primary election was conducted on Tuesday, February 2, 2010...
after defeating Democratic
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...
incumbent Michael Bond
Michael Bond (politician)
Michael Bond is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 31st District since 2007.Bond and his wife live in Grayslake with their three children. He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Southern Illinois University in 1992, and his MBA in Finance from Roosevelt...
with just over 53% of the popular vote.
Tenure
Shortly after taking office, Schmidt joined with other Senate Republicans in proposing a plan which would introduce more than $5 billion in reductions to government spending intended to "maintain core government services and also [prevent an] income tax increase".Schmidt sponsored an amendment to the Deposit of State Moneys Act which places restrictions on the Illinois Treasurer's power to invest state funds. The bill passed both Houses 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...
and was sent to the office of the Governor
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
. She also acted as the chief Senate sponsor of a bill which authorizes law enforcement agencies to collect pharmaceuticals for safe disposal.
Schmidt was a co-sponsor to legislation which would have allowed the practice of concealed carry
Concealed carry
Concealed carry, or CCW , refers to the practice of carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in proximity.-In Canada:...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. She also co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution introduced by Democratic
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...
Senator Kwame Raoul
Kwame Raoul
Kwame Raoul is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 13th district since his appointment to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama in 2004...
which would amended the Illinois Constitution
Illinois Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970.-History:...
to consolidate the positions of State Treasurer and State Comptroller.
In 2011 Schmidt was appointed to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which provides the Legislature with research and information regarding state and national economies, revenue projections and operations of Illinois Government. She was also appointed to the Illinois Council on Aging during her first year in office.
In September 2011, the Illinois Environmental Council, a state environmental advocacy group, awarded Schmidt the Environmental Leadership Award for her work with the Lake County Forest Preserve.
Committee Assignments
Schmidt was appointed Minority Spokesperson of the Local Government Committee during the 97th session of the Illinois General Assembly. She currently serves on the following six committees:- Appropriations II Committee
- Commerce Committee
- Education Committee
- Financial Institutions Committee
- Local Government Committee (Minority Spokesperson)
- Subcommittee on Annexation
Personal life
Schmidt and her husband Bob were married in 1980 and currently reside in Lake Villa, IllinoisLake Villa, Illinois
Lake Villa is a village in Lake County, Illinois United States. The population was 5,864 at the 2000 census. Lake Villa lies within Lake Villa Township...
.
On August 16, 2011, police were called to the Schmidt home by Bob Schmidt regarding a domestic dispute. Police did not release further details on the ongoing investigation of what they called a "verbal argument." As of August 19, 2011, no further details had been released regarding the verbal argument.
The police were again called to the Schmidt home twice in September 2011. The last 911 call made on September 26 was recorded, and has led to implications that Schmidt may have intended to use her political position to influence Lake County authorities against intervening in the matter. Schmidt later issued a press release to deny that this was her intent and apologize for the perceived inappropriateness of the comments. Robert Schmidt consistently conveyed to the media that he considered the affair to be a private matter and did not wish to comment further.
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Suzi Schmidt (R) 31st District official IL Senate website
- Suzi Schmidt for State Senate official campaign website