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 State Representative Elaine Nekritz is serving her fifth 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.
Education,
health care and the environment are the main components of Representative
Nekritz’ legislative agenda. During
the last session, Nekritz worked to increase education funding in the state
budget, providing $350 million in new state aid for schools. She supported the All Kids initiative,
which provides access to affordable health care coverage for uninsured
children. In addition, Representative
Nekritz’ legislation to set a 10 minute limit on the amount of time certain
diesel powered trucks and buses can idle was signed into law by the Governor
and is expected to reduce harmful diesel emissions.
Representative Nekritz is also addressing local issues that impact the 57th
district,  such as flooding and transportation. In 2004, she sponsored legislation to
create the Cook County Stormwater Management Commission to address the
concerns of residents living near the Des Plaines River. The Commission provides a comprehensive
approach to combating flooding problems throughout the region. 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. An
avid cyclist, Representative Nekritz is committed to making the roads in her
community safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. She continues to work jointly with local
and state officials to encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation.
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.
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