Democrat Mary Flowers is up for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives in the upcoming November general election. Flowers ran against Samantha Simpson (D) in March and advanced from the democratic primary with 71% of the votes. Representative Flowers was first elected to the Illinois House of Representative for the 31st District in 1985 and served until 1992. At that time, she was elected and served as State Representative for the 21st District.
Flowers once again ran for election in 2002 for the Illinois House of Representatives 31st district and beat out Republican C.A. Lofton with 87% of the votes. She has since remained a member of the 31st District Illinois House of Representatives.
Recently Representative Flowers has been focused on bringing awareness to the maternal mortality rate in our country. Especially that of women of color whose maternal mortality rate is six times higher than their white counterparts. Flowers introduced legislation into law that now requires gathering pertinent information and ensures that hospitals compile quarterly reports on maternal morality to pinpoint any underlying causes.
Representative Flowers also serves as co-chair for the Property Tax Relief Task Force and plans to support bills that will ensure that TIF money is used in the communities where it is needed and not funnel to wealthier communities. She has also introduced legislation that will ensure healthcare and prescription drugs are made more accessible for low-income families and senior citizens, including placing a price cap on the cost of insulin.
Mary Flowers is a staunch supporter of the Fair Tax Amendment, which will move Illinois from a flat-rate tax to a graduated income tax. This amendment requires millionaires and billionaires to pay a higher tax rate than the middle and low-income residents. Representative Flowers also supported a bill that created the Property Tax Relief Fund to issue rebates to homeowners.
For more information on Mary Flowers or other candidates running for office in the upcoming November 3rd election, please visit https://illinoisvoterguide.org/.
Paula J. Shelton is a freelance writer living in Chicago. Visit her on social @beboldshineon.