Policy Champions

Senator Christopher Belt

57th District

Serves as Chair of the Senate Education Committee
Holds two Master’s degrees, one of which is in professional counseling
Served four years on the board of Cahokia Unit School District 187, including two years as board president
Worked as a law enforcement officer for 18 years
Created the Difference Makers Professional Organization, dedicated to strengthening the decision-making capabilities of young men between the ages of 9 and 18
Worked as chief co-sponsor for bills SB4028 and SB1577
Worked as co-sponsor for bill SB3889

56th District

Serves as Chair on the Elementary & Secondary Education Committee School Curriculum & Policies Committee and is a member of the Mental Health & Addiction Committee
Representative Mussman is a former second-vice president of the Enders-Salk Parent Teacher Association and the former president and treasurer of the Parent Teacher Association.
Representative Mussman was also on the leadership board for the Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County
Chief co-sponsor of bill HB1778
Representative co-sponsor of bill SB3936
Her husband, George, is a high school teacher at Fenton High School who teaches history and is the school theater director.

49th District

Senator Loughran Cappel was as a special education teacher. In 2015 she became a union representative for her school’s teacher’s union.
Was on the Joliet High School Board, where she worked to improve school safety and technical problems.
Is a member of the Education Committee and the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee and served as an Illinois Association of School Board delegate
Co-sponsor for bill SB4028 and Senate co-sponsor for bill HJR0001
Filed bill SB3914 which became a public act in 2022
Her husband is a public school teacher

46th District

A former Elmhurst District 205 school board member and has worked as a volunteer teacher
Has been a PTA member and nonprofit leader working to support District 205 schools
Served on the board of the Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation
Served as Chair of the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee and as a member of the Elementary & Secondary Education Committee School Curriculum & Policies Committee
Filed bill HB0212 which became a public act in 2021
Filed bill HB0213 and HB5392
Was the chief co-sponsor for HB1778 and a co-sponsor for bill HB0576
Donated a kidney to her ex-husband who has suffered from poststreptococcal disorder and hypertension

9th District

Serves as Chair of the Behavioral and Mental Health Committee
Is an advocate for public education
Chief co-sponsor for SB1577
Co-sponsor for bills SB3889, HB0597, and HJR0001
Senator Fine’s husband, Michael Fine, was a victim of a car accident. He lost an arm from the incident and suffered from depression and attempted suicide as a result of the event.