Carol Ammons
Carol Ammons is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives who has represented the 103rd district since January 2015.[1] The 103rd district includes all or parts of Champaign, Urbana, and Staley.[2] She is the first African American woman to serve in the seat, and the first from Champaign County to be elected beyond the County Board level.[3] Ammons is a co-chair of the Illinois House's Progressive Caucus.
Carol Ammons | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 103rd district | |
| Assumed office January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Naomi Jakobsson |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Aaron Ammons |
| Relations | Titianna Ammons |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Urbana, Illinois |
| Occupation | Illinois State Representative |
| Profession | Social activist |
| Website | Illinois General Assembly |
Early career
Ammons worked as a community organizer in the Urbana-Champaign, Illinois community.[4] She served five years on the Champaign County Board and later the Urbana City Council.[5] Following her election to the Illinois House of Representatives, the Urbana City Council appointed her recently pardoned husband Aaron Ammons to fill her vacated seat.[6]
Electoral career
Ammons' victory in the Illinois 2014 Primary Election for the Illinois House of Representatives' 103rd District was widely considered an upset. Her opponent, Sam Rosenberg, received the endorsement of retiring State Representative Naomi Jakobsson and the financial support of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, whose political committees donated $60,422 to the Rosenberg campaign.[7] Ammons' itemized campaign contributions amounted to $16,000 compared to Rosenberg's $185,000.[7]
In April 2015, Ammons formally announced that she was considering a run for Congress in Illinois' 13th Congressional District, but ultimately decided not to.[8]
Ammons, while unopposed for reelection, was one of eight candidates endorsed by Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential campaign.[9]
Illinois House of Representatives
The 103rd district primarily encompasses the Champaign-Urbana community, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.[10] Ammons is also an active member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and in early 2023 was named Joint Chair of the caucus.[11][12]
Committees
As of 2022, Ammons serves on the following committees and subcommittees:
- Appropriations - Higher Education Committee[13]
- Counties & Townships Committee[13]
- Economic Opportunity & Equity Committee[13]
- Energy & Environment Committee[13]
- Ethics & Elections Committee[13]
- Higher Education Committee[13]
- Small Business, Tech Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Committee(Chairperson)[13]
- Campaign Finance Subcommittee[13]
Legislation
Bills of which Ammons is listed as the Primary Sponsor and which have gone on to become law in Illinois include HB3783, which amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to certify that all workers who install coal combustion residual surface impoundments have completed specified trainings preparing them to do so, and HB1063, which repealed a statute that had created the criminal offense of transmitting HIV.[14][15]
Controversy
During Ammons' 2014 campaign for the Illinois House of Representatives, Carol Ammons claimed to have graduated from Walsingham University in London, UK. Critics and local media pointed out that Walsingham is considered to be a pay-for-play, "diploma mill" and is not included on any credentialed lists of British government institutions of higher learning. Critics called on Ammons to drop out of the race due to the claim and related controversy. [16][17]
In 2015, upon Carol Ammons' election to the Illinois House of Representatives and prior to her taking office, it was announced that Ammons' husband, Aaron Ammons, was pardoned by the outgoing governor of Illinois for violent and non-violent crimes relating to heroin possession and other charges. When local media examined the pardon, they questioned the lack of due diliginece and whether favoritism had been shown and proper procedures had been followed. The pardon allowed Carol Ammons' husband to apply for and be granted Carol Ammons' seat on the Urbana City Council, which she was vacating for her State Rep seat. [18][19][20][21]
In 2020, Carol Ammons was investigated for the theft of a Coach purse from a non-profit resale shop that raises funds for sick children. [22][23]
In 2020, Carol Ammons claimed to be Chairwoman of the Democratic Party for Champaign County, part of a months long controversy. [24]
In early 2023, Ammons applied for the Illinois Senate seat for the 52nd District that had been vacated by the untimely death of Senator Scott Bennett. Paul Faraci was eventually named to the seat. In the lead up to the appointment, Carol Ammons supporters and husband Aaron Ammons were very vocal in their criticisms of the process and in others being considered for the seat. Several members of the Champaign County Democrats and the family of the late Scott Bennett ultimately made public statements refuting Carol and Aaron Ammons’ statements to the media and disappointment in the Ammons’ actions around the time of Bennett’s death and during the posthumous appointment of a replacement to Bennett’s seat. [25][26][27][28][29]
Personal life
Ammons currently resides in Urbana with her husband, Aaron Ammons. Aaron Ammons is currently serving as the County Clerk for Champaign County, Illinois. Carol and Aarons' daughter, Titianna, served on the Champaign County Board until her resignation in 2021. Titianna Ammons reportedly received death threats during her campaign for County Board.[13][30][31]
In the 2016 United States presidential election, Ammons served as a presidential elector from Illinois.[32]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carol Ammons | 3,307 | 56.84 | |
| Democratic | Samuel A. Rosenberg | 2,511 | 43.16 | |
| Total votes | 5,818 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carol Ammons | 13,177 | 61.42 | |
| Republican | Kristin Williamson | 8,317 | 38.58 | |
| Total votes | 55,650 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carol Ammons (incumbent) | 34,071 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 34,071 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carol Ammons (incumbent) | 30,802 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 30,802 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carol Ammons (incumbent) | 31,127 | 78.65 | |
| Libertarian Party (Illinois) | Brad Bielert | 8,452 | 21.35 | |
| Total votes | 39,579 | 100.00 | ||
References
- ^ Meisel, Hannah (2014-11-05). "Carol Ammons Wins 103rd House Seat Over Kristin Williamson". Illinois Public Media. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
- ^ "State Legislative District Reference Map" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ Garennes, Christine (2014-11-09). "We're Going to Win with Dignity and Respect".
- ^ Dolinar, Brian. . Archived from the original on 2015-05-22.
- ^ Winters, Josh. . Daily Illini. Archived from the original on 2015-05-22.
- ^ Dey, Jim. "Ammons a Naysayer in First Council Vote". News Gazette.
- ^ a b Kacich, Tom (2014-03-19). "Ammons cashes in". News Gazette.
- ^ Donald, Elizabeth. "State legislator considers challenging Davis in 13th district".
- ^ Hettinger, Chris (2016-05-24). "Sanders endorses, funds Ammons campaign".
- ^ "103rd House District". News-Gazette.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2016-06-04.
- ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-despite-setback-rep-ammons-made-a-couple-moves-up/article_7aad08d5-5227-5a85-b977-e3013c50c3cf.html
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Representative Carol Ammons (D)". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Bill Status of HB3783". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Bill Status of HB1063". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/questions-about-ammons-degree-spark-war-of-words/article_148afd9d-cdb3-5e41-aaf2-5d00737aeb9c.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://smilepolitely.com/opinion/carol_ammons_a_degree_of_education/.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.ammons4clerk.com/window-of-hope.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/10/illinois-when-do-laws-matter/.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-politics-at-play-in-this-pardon/article_33348092-ca32-5341-b76c-c0193bcef32e.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://publici.ucimc.org/2015/01/uc-imcs-own-aaron-ammons-receives-pardon/.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/courts-police-fire/judge-orders-urbana-to-release-all-police-reports-in-ammons-investigation/article_664015d8-d42e-51ab-a14b-ae9a88b5155f.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/ammons-i-will-continue-to-offer-leadership-whether-my-folding-chair-has-a-space-at/article_2eb88a27-835d-598d-9641-1e249860bc6a.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/jim-dey-state-democratic-officials-backing-ammons-claim-on-champaign-countys-top-post/article_e621aa1d-49df-5ab2-9a93-415184a7879b.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/what-theyre-posting-emotions-run-high-as-decision-nears/article_f7170454-98a3-5029-aceb-6527c88aace6.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/newsletter/content/daily_headlines/rep-ammons-nobody-is-better-suited-to-step-into-the-senate-than-i-am/article_901caf29-cc2b-53ba-8cdd-43cf019a469c.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/carol-ammons-seeks-appointment-to-bennetts-senate-seat/article_8262f266-8c3b-516c-bbc6-94df08d813da.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/newsletter/content/daily_headlines/dems-party-leader-wants-nod-for-bennett-senate-seat/article_1e93f49e-2ae2-5c64-8c8d-fa036922f53c.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/politics/what-theyre-posting-emotions-run-high-as-decision-nears/article_f7170454-98a3-5029-aceb-6527c88aace6.html
- ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/titianna-ammons-resigns-from-county-board/article_5617ad86-5797-5d37-9ca8-00bd30368b87.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ https://www.news-gazette.com/news/sheriff-investigating-death-threat-sent-to-ammons/article_67029fc6-800f-11ea-977c-7f2b38a228e4.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ . nprillinois.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
- ^ . Champaign County Clerk. Archived from the original on 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
- ^ "November 4, 2014 Champaign County Election Results". Champaign County Clerk.
- ^ "Election Results, 2016 General Election". elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Election Results, 2018 General Election". elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "Election Results, 2020 General Election". elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
External links
- at the Illinois General Assembly
- Carol Ammons constituency site
- Profile at Project VoteSmart
- at Illinois House Democrats