Maggie Crotty

M. Maggie Crotty
Bremen Township Supervisor
Assumed office
May 2005 (2005-05)
Preceded by John A. Daly[1]
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 19th district
In office
January 8, 2003 (2003-01-08) – January 9, 2013 (2013-01-09)
Preceded by William F. Mahar Jr.[2]
Succeeded by Michael Hastings
Personal details
Born (1948-10-16) October 16, 1948
Chicago, Illinois
Political party Democratic
Other political
affiliations		 Bremen Tax Cut Party
Children Three
Residence Oak Forest, Illinois

Maggie Crotty is the Bremen Township Supervisor and a former Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 19th district from 2003 to 2013. She was Chairperson of the Elections Committee, Vice-Chairperson of the Local Government Committee, and was a member of the Higher Education, Labor, and Revenue Committees.[3] She announced she would not be seeking reelection after her term expired in 2013.

Bremen Township Supervisor

Crotty is currently the supervisor of Bremen Township, Illinois. During her campaign for the April 4, 2017 election for a fourth term, Crotty did not put up a campaign website or issue any press releases. Crotty runs a political machine, "well oiled and well-funded, albeit quietly with local property tax dollars."[4] Each homeowner in her district, many without knowing it, pays around $60 every year to fund her campaign. That adds up to $2.23 million annually. Property taxes in Bremen Township "are soaring, today ranking among the most suffocating in not just the Chicago area, but the entire country" according to South Cook News.[4]

Illinois State Senate

Crotty was elected to the Illinois Senate after 19th district incumbent William Mahar, Jr. was drawn into a district with Christine Radogno leaving an opening in the 19th district.[5]

While in the Illinois Senate, Crotty's legislative priorities included health issues and education. She passed legislation to expand state reading assistance grants to grades 7 through 12. Another legislative goal was to increase the state reimbursement rate to school districts for providing special education. She was a co-sponsor of a Bill to create a state administered prescription drug discount buying group for seniors. Beginning in January 2004, seniors were able to save up to 50% on the cost of prescription drugs.

As a supporter of children with special needs, Crotty helped secure a bill that appropriates $10,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services. The funds will be allocated for a grant to the Autism Program for an Autism Diagnosis Education Program for young children.[6]

Crotty is a supporter of better living for all citizens; in 2009 she helped pass a bill which Appropriates $64,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services to increase the wages paid to employees who provide homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services and to provide health insurance coverage to those employees and their dependents. This bill allowed individuals involved to have an opportunity to receive insurance based upon the additional pay increase.[7]

Crotty sponsored many important initiatives to boost the state's share of education funding. She played a major role in passing a "Silver Alert" system for Illinois. Based on the "AMBER Alert" system that warns expressway and interstate motorists of missing or abducted children, Crotty's initiative permits law enforcement to provide alerts for missing and endangered seniors and the disabled.[8]

Illinois House of Representatives

Crotty served three terms as an Illinois State Representative, first elected in 1996. Prior to joining the Illinois General Assembly, she worked for the Southwest Cook County Cooperative for Special Education.

Community efforts

Throughout Crotty's professional career she has maintained memberships to various organizations such as: Metropolitan Services Community Advisory Board, present Member, Oak Forest Lions Club, present Chair, School District 228 Education Foundation, present Member, South Star Services Advisory Board, present Member, South Suburban College History Round Table, present Honorary Member, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago Board of Directors, present Board Member, Crisis Center of South Suburbia, 2002-2006 Past President, Oak Forest Kiwanis Club, 1990-1992 Member/Past President, Oak Forest High School Football Booster Club Past Member/Secretary, Oak Forest Civil Service Commission. Crotty continues to be active in the community by volunteering for many not-for-profit organizations and boards.[9]

Crotty recently proposed to the Bremen Township Board to cease Township funding to a local community mental health care provider, Bremen Youth Services, despite outstanding community support for the organization and calls to withdraw the RFP. As of March 31, 2016, all township funding was dropped due to this proposal by Crotty. This decision could ultimately result in BYS closing their doors entirely and shutting down the numerous programs they provide.[10][11][12][13]

Awards

Senator Crotty has received the following awards:

  • General Excellence Award;
  • Illinois State Crime Commission, 2000;
  • Legislator of the Year;
  • Illinois Association of Park Districts, 2000;
  • Friend of Taxpayers Award;
  • Nation Taxpayers United of Illinois, 1999;
  • Outstanding Freshman Legislator; and
  • Illinois Health Care Association

[14]

Personal life

Maggie Crotty was born in Chicago, IL and was a graduate of Mercy High School. Her hometown is Oak Forest, IL. During her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family. She has three children Kevin, Keith, Mark and is the grandmother of five.[8]

References

  1. ↑ http://results.cookcountyclerk.com/electionresults/040505/DetailSummaryElection040505RaceNum498.html?Party=ALL
  2. ↑ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-10-25/news/9810250274_1_mahar-incumbent-senator-anti-violence-measures
  3. ↑ http://www.ilga.gov.
  4. 1 2 "The Boss of Bremen Township". South Cook News. 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  5. ↑ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-03-20/news/0203200255_1_district-boundaries-legislative-boundaries-democrats
  6. ↑ http://www.e-lobbyist.com/gaits/IL/SB2355
  7. ↑ http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=4144&GAID=9&SessionID=51&LegID=34269
  8. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  9. ↑ http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9554
  10. ↑ http://www.bremenyouthservices.org/
  11. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-bremen-youth-services-st-0404-20160401-story.html
  12. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-bremen-township-st-03113-20160312-story.html
  13. ↑ http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/04/06/decades-old-south-suburban-youth-services-center-in-danger-of-closing/
  14. ↑ http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1274&GA=96
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