Ethel Skyles Alexander facts for kids

Ethel Skyles Alexander (born January 16, 1925 – died September 10, 2016) was an important American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. She served in both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. This means she helped make laws for the state of Illinois. She was a state lawmaker for many years. A famous politician, Carol Moseley Braun, even called Ethel Alexander her mentor.

Ethel Alexander was born in Chicago, Illinois. She went to Englewood High School. Later, she earned a degree from Loop College, which is now called Harold Washington College. She also took a special course in computer skills there. Before becoming a politician, she worked for 33 years in the Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court office. Her father, Charles Skyles, was also a politician in the Illinois General Assembly.

Ethel Alexander's Political Journey

Serving in the Illinois House

Ethel Alexander began her political career in the Illinois House of Representatives. She served there from 1979 to 1986. During this time, she represented different areas of Chicago. From 1979 to 1983, she represented the 26th House District. After some changes to district maps, she then represented the 32nd House District from 1983 to 1987. In 1985, she became the chairperson of the House Elections Committee. This committee was in charge of rules for elections.

Moving to the Illinois Senate

On July 16, 1986, Ethel Alexander was chosen to join the Illinois Senate. She took the place of Charles Chew, who had passed away. She continued to serve in the Senate until 1993. In the Senate, she also took on important leadership roles. From 1987 to 1989, she was the vice-chair of the Senate Elections and Redistricting Committee. This committee also dealt with election rules and how voting districts were drawn. From 1989 to 1993, she became the chairperson of this committee.

Community Leadership in Chicago

Besides her work in the state government, Alexander was also a local leader in Chicago. She served as the Democratic ward committeewoman for Chicago's 20th ward. A ward committeewoman is a local party leader who helps organize political activities in a specific neighborhood. She took over this role from Cecil A. Partee, another important politician, in 1989. In 1992, she was one of only two women holding this kind of leadership position in Chicago. She later lost this position in a primary election in 1992.

Ethel Alexander passed away in Chicago in 2016. Both the Illinois House and Senate passed a special resolution to honor her life and work.