A Representative from Illinois. Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill. , December 10, 1953. B. A. , Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Ill. , 1974. Teacher. Social worker, Illinois state department of children and family services. Administrative assistant, Chicago, Ill. , mayor&rsquo. S office subcommittee on infrastructure, 1984-1985. Co-founder, West Town-26th Ward Independent Political Organization, 1985. Alderman, Chicago, Ill. , city council, 1986-1993, president pro tem, 1989-1992. Delegate, Democratic National Committee, 1984. Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the twelve succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1993-January 3, 2019). Was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress in 2018.