Michelle A. Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michelle Harris
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| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 8th ward |
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| Assumed office December 13, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Todd Stroger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 13, 1961 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Chicago State University (BA) |
Michelle A. Harris (born December 13, 1961) is an American politician. She is currently the alderperson for the 8th ward in Chicago. An alderperson is like a city council member who represents a specific area, or "ward," in a city. Michelle Harris also leads the rules committee for the Chicago City Council. This committee helps decide how the City Council operates and what rules they follow.
Early Life and Education
Michelle Harris grew up on the south side of Chicago. For her high school education, she attended Chicago Vocational High School. Later, she went to Chicago State University to continue her studies.
Becoming an Alderperson
Michelle Harris started her career as an alderperson in 2006. She was chosen by Mayor Richard M. Daley to fill a spot that became open. This happened after Todd Stroger, the previous alderperson, left to become the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
On December 13, 2006, the Chicago City Council officially approved Michelle Harris as the new Alderwoman. She then took an oath to begin her work. Since then, the people of the 8th ward have re-elected her several times. She won elections again in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019. This shows that the community trusts her to represent them.
As an alderperson, Michelle Harris works to improve her ward and the city. She helps make decisions on important issues that affect Chicago residents. She also works with other leaders to make sure the city runs smoothly. For example, she served as Mayor Lori Lightfoot's floor leader. This means she helped guide important discussions and decisions within the City Council.
Running for Clerk of the Circuit Court
In 2016, Michelle Harris decided to run for a different public office. She ran for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. This position involves managing many important court records and documents. She ran in the Democratic primary election against the person who held the job at the time, Dorothy A. Brown. Michelle Harris received many votes, but she did not win this election.
