Maurice West facts for kids

Maurice A. West II is a politician who works for the people of Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. This is a group of people who make laws for the state of Illinois.

Mr. West represents the 67th district. This area includes parts of the city of Rockford, Illinois. He started his job as a representative on January 9, 2019.

About Maurice West

Maurice West was born on June 20, 1985, in Elgin, Illinois. He went to Illinois College and earned a degree in psychology and sociology. Later, he got a master's degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Before becoming a state representative, Mr. West worked in different roles. He was a director of career development at Rockford University. He also served on the Community Action Agency Board.

What a State Representative Does

As a state representative, Maurice West helps create and vote on new laws for Illinois. He works on different committees to study important topics. These committees help decide which laws should be passed.

As of July 2025, Representative West is part of several important committees. These include committees that look at:

• Crime and law enforcement
• Gun safety
• Higher education (colleges and universities)
• Mental health and addiction
• Property taxes
• Public utilities (like electricity and water)

Making a Difference: School Mascots

Maurice West has worked to change school mascots that might be offensive. In 2019, he introduced a bill about school mascots. This bill aimed to stop Hononegah High School from using mascots that were based on Native American images. This bill became a law in 2021.

He also worked on similar bills in 2021, 2024, and 2025. In 2023, he sponsored a bill that requires schools to teach about Native American history and culture.

In 2025, Representative West introduced another important bill. It was called the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act. This bill came after people with dwarfism and parents of children with dwarfism spoke out. They were concerned about the mascot of Freeburg Community High School, which was called "Marty the Midget." This bill aims to stop the use of mascots that are offensive to people with disabilities.

How Maurice West Was Elected

Maurice West first ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018. He won the primary election against three other candidates. A primary election is when people from the same political party choose who will represent them.

After winning the primary, he then won the general election in 2018. This meant he officially became the state representative for the 67th district. He has been re-elected several times since then, including in 2020 and 2022. This shows that the people in his district continue to support his work.