Biography: Representative Elaine Nekritz

Biography: Representative Elaine Nekritz

 

State Representative Elaine Nekritz is serving her fourth term in the Illinois House of Representatives.  The 57th District encompasses portions of several of Chicago's north and northwest suburbs: Des Plaines, Glenview, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook and Prospect Heights.

 

Government Accountability, the environment, and transportation are the main components of Representative Nekritz’ legislative agenda. She was successful in abolishing the Cook County Tuberculosis Sanitarium District and is currently working to revamp the scandal ridden Cook County Regional Office of Education.  Her legislation to set a 10 minute limit on the amount of time certain diesel powered trucks and buses can idle was signed into law and is expected to reduce harmful diesel emissions.  Finally, as Chair of the House Railroad Industry Committee, Nekritz is a leader is promoting high speed passenger rail in Illinois.

Representative Nekritz is also addressing local issues that impact the 57th district. 
In 2004, she sponsored legislation to create give cook county stormwater management authority to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD).  In 2005, Nekritz, with the assistance of other local officials, secured a state grant for the completion of Levee 50, a major flood reduction project in Des Plaines.  She continues to work with MWRD and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources flooding issues along the Des Plaines River and across the district.

Prior to her election as representative of the 57th District in November 2002, Nekritz was a member of the law firm of Altheimer and Gray, working as a real estate attorney and later becoming a partner with the firm.  She also worked as legislative aide to Jeff Schoenberg, now the State Senator of the 9th District, while he served as the state representative of the 58th District.

Representative Nekritz is a past public affairs chairperson for the National Council of Jewish Women, member of the Glenview League of Women Voters, member of the Sierra Club, and a Board Member of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.  Her work in Springfield has earned the Legislative Service Award from the American Lung Association, the Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Northwest Suburban Sierra Club’s Legislator of the Year Award.  Nekritz resides in Northbrook with her husband, Barry.