Earlean Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earlean Collins
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official portrait, circa 1981
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| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 1st district |
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| In office December 1998 – December 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Darlena Williams-Burnett |
| Succeeded by | Richard Boykin |
| Illinois State Senator | |
| In office 1976–1998 |
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| Succeeded by | Kimberly Lightford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 4, 1937 Rolling Fork, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois |
| Profession | Attorney |
Earlean Collins (born September 4, 1937) is an American politician. She made history in 1976 by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Illinois Senate. There, she grew into a strong leader.
Later, from 1998 to 2014, she served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. She represented a large area that included parts of Chicago and nearby towns like Oak Park and Maywood.
Early Life and Education
Earlean Collins was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. She was one of fourteen children in her family. Later, she moved to Chicago, Illinois.
She attended the University of Illinois. She was married to Otis G. Collins, who also served in the Illinois government.
Public Service Career
Before becoming a commissioner, Earlean Collins worked in public service. She was an Assistant Administrator for Children and Family Services. She also served as Assistant Minority Leader in the Illinois Senate.
Her election to the Illinois Senate in 1976 was a big moment. She was the first African-American woman to achieve this. In 1994, she ran for Illinois Comptroller, a state financial role. She won her party's primary election but was not elected in the main election.
Cook County Commissioner Role
Earlean Collins was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1998. She represented the 1st district. She was reelected three times, serving until 2014. She decided not to run for reelection that year.
As a Cook County Commissioner, she led several important committees. These included committees for Business and Economic Development and Public Health. She also worked on the Family Court and Juvenile Detention Center Committees.
Her main goals as a commissioner were to help people. She wanted to improve conditions for those with mental illness in the Cook County Jail. She also worked to increase mental health treatment in communities. Another important issue for her was creating more affordable housing. She also aimed to train people to repair houses.
In 2008, as a commissioner, she voted to keep a sales tax increase in Cook County.
