Kimberly Ann Lightford (born May 10, 1968) is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 4th district since 1998. She is Senate Majority Leader and also serves on Labor, Education, Executive, Financial Institutions and Redistricting committees. She is also chair of the Senate Black Caucus and co-chair of the Illinois Commission of Intergovernmental Cooperation.
Lightford attended Proviso East High School before going on to Western Illinois University, where she was initiated as a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. After college, she attended graduate school at the University of Illinois Springfield where she earned a master's degree in Public Administration (MPA) and completed an internship with the Illinois Department of Corrections. After graduation, she accepted a position with the Department of Corrections in Chicago. She successfully ran for Maywood Village Trustee after encouragement from her state representative. When State Senator Earlean Collins announced plans to retire, Lightford was elected in March 1998 and began serving in November, two months before the traditional inauguration, when Collins retired.
In July 2016, the Illinois Senate passed a stop-gap temporary budget bill. Within a few minutes, Lightford addressed the Senate. In her remarks, she said that legislators needed to get paid for their work. Although the only body in Illinois responsible for the state budget is the state legislature, Lightford said, "And I think it’s wrong for our income to be held for months, and months, and months, which is another game that’s being played."[1]
In 2018, Governor-elect J. B. Pritzker appointed Lightford to the Educational Success transition committee, which is responsible for state education policy.[2]
After Illinois Senate President John Cullerton announced his retirement, Lightford became a candidate to replace him. If she had been selected, she would have been the first woman to hold the position. She was ultimately beaten out for the position by Don Harmon.[3] After losing to Harmon in closed-door Democratic Party negotiations, Lightford herself placed Harmon's name into nomination at the formal vote for Senate President.[4]
Lightford was the victim of a carjacking on December 22, 2021, during which her husband was shot at.[5] Her husband returned gunfire at the carjackers.[6] She said, "I thought for sure they were gonna shoot me down... It was a lot of shots being fired. I think they were shooting at my husband and me and luckily enough my husband is concealed and carry and he was able to protect us."[7]
As of July 2022, Senator Lightford is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees:[8]
Appropriations - Personnel and Procurement Committee (SAPP-SAPP)
Appropriations - Education Committee (SAPP-SAED)
(Chairwoman of) Assignments Committee (SCOA)
Education Committee (SESE)
Executive Committee (SEXC)
Executive - Cannabis Subcommittee (SEXC-SEOC)
(Chairwoman of) Executive - Government Operations Subcommittee (SEXC-SEGO)
Executive - Special Issues Subcommittee (SEXC-SESI)
Higher Education Committees (SCHE)
Labor Committee (SLAB)
(Chairwoman of) Redistricting - Chicago West and Western Cook County Subcommittee (SRED-SRWW)
Political positionsedit
Lightford supports the right of law abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun.[6][7]
In a May 15, 2020, television interview, Lightford claimed that the COVID-19 virus was "man-made" and that "someone was in cahoots for some reason and I think it just got a little bit out of control." Leading medical experts who have examined the genetic structure of the virus say that it could not have been created in a lab. Later, Lightford admitted that she had no evidence to support her comments.[9]
^"Harmon wins top Senate post". Oak Park Journal. January 20, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
^Sfondeles, Tina (January 19, 2020). "Illinois Senate president race: Accusations of personal betrayal and payback fly furiously". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
^Gorner, Jeremy (December 22, 2021). "State Sen. Kimberly Lightford carjacked in suburban Broadview". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^ abState Sen. Kimberly Lightford’s husband exchanged gunfire with at least one suspect during carjacking earlier this week, police say, Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2021
^ abState Sen. Kimberly Lightford recounts harrowing carjacking details: 'I begged them not to shoot us', ABC 7 Chicago, December 23, 2021
^"Illinois General Assembly - Senator Committees". ilga.gov. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^Sepeda-Miller, Kiannah (May 21, 2020). "PolitiFact / No, the novel coronavirus was not 'man-made'". PolitiFact. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
External linksedit
Biography, bills and committees at the 98th Illinois General Assembly
By session: 98th, 97th, 96th, 95th, 94th, 93rd
Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford legislative website
kimberly, lightford, kimberly, lightford, born, 1968, democratic, member, illinois, senate, representing, district, since, 1998, senate, majority, leader, also, serves, labor, education, executive, financial, institutions, redistricting, committees, also, chai. Kimberly Ann Lightford born May 10 1968 is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate representing the 4th district since 1998 She is Senate Majority Leader and also serves on Labor Education Executive Financial Institutions and Redistricting committees She is also chair of the Senate Black Caucus and co chair of the Illinois Commission of Intergovernmental Cooperation Kimberly LightfordMajority Leader of Illinois SenateIncumbentAssumed office January 9 2019Preceded byJames Clayborne Jr Member of the Illinois Senate from the 4th districtIncumbentAssumed office November 20 1998Preceded byEarlean CollinsPersonal detailsBorn 1968 05 10 May 10 1968 age 55 Chicago Illinois U S Political partyDemocraticEducationWestern Illinois University BA University of Illinois Springfield MPA Contents 1 Biography 2 Political positions 3 Coronavirus conspiracy theory 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography editLightford attended Proviso East High School before going on to Western Illinois University where she was initiated as a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority After college she attended graduate school at the University of Illinois Springfield where she earned a master s degree in Public Administration MPA and completed an internship with the Illinois Department of Corrections After graduation she accepted a position with the Department of Corrections in Chicago She successfully ran for Maywood Village Trustee after encouragement from her state representative When State Senator Earlean Collins announced plans to retire Lightford was elected in March 1998 and began serving in November two months before the traditional inauguration when Collins retired In July 2016 the Illinois Senate passed a stop gap temporary budget bill Within a few minutes Lightford addressed the Senate In her remarks she said that legislators needed to get paid for their work Although the only body in Illinois responsible for the state budget is the state legislature Lightford said And I think it s wrong for our income to be held for months and months and months which is another game that s being played 1 In 2018 Governor elect J B Pritzker appointed Lightford to the Educational Success transition committee which is responsible for state education policy 2 After Illinois Senate President John Cullerton announced his retirement Lightford became a candidate to replace him If she had been selected she would have been the first woman to hold the position She was ultimately beaten out for the position by Don Harmon 3 After losing to Harmon in closed door Democratic Party negotiations Lightford herself placed Harmon s name into nomination at the formal vote for Senate President 4 Lightford was the victim of a carjacking on December 22 2021 during which her husband was shot at 5 Her husband returned gunfire at the carjackers 6 She said I thought for sure they were gonna shoot me down It was a lot of shots being fired I think they were shooting at my husband and me and luckily enough my husband is concealed and carry and he was able to protect us 7 As of July 2022 Senator Lightford is a member of the following Illinois Senate committees 8 Appropriations Personnel and Procurement Committee SAPP SAPP Appropriations Education Committee SAPP SAED Chairwoman of Assignments Committee SCOA Education Committee SESE Executive Committee SEXC Executive Cannabis Subcommittee SEXC SEOC Chairwoman of Executive Government Operations Subcommittee SEXC SEGO Executive Special Issues Subcommittee SEXC SESI Higher Education Committees SCHE Labor Committee SLAB Chairwoman of Redistricting Chicago West and Western Cook County Subcommittee SRED SRWW Political positions editLightford supports the right of law abiding citizens to carry a concealed handgun 6 7 Coronavirus conspiracy theory editMain article Misinformation related to the COVID 19 pandemic Bio engineered virus In a May 15 2020 television interview Lightford claimed that the COVID 19 virus was man made and that someone was in cahoots for some reason and I think it just got a little bit out of control Leading medical experts who have examined the genetic structure of the virus say that it could not have been created in a lab Later Lightford admitted that she had no evidence to support her comments 9 See also editChicago metropolitan area Gun violence in ChicagoReferences edit Sen Kimberly Lightford s Questionable Campaign Spending Archived from the original on October 13 2016 Retrieved June 5 2022 Miller Rich November 27 2018 Pritzker transition announces Educational Success Committee Capitol Fax Retrieved November 27 2018 Harmon wins top Senate post Oak Park Journal January 20 2020 Retrieved April 3 2020 Sfondeles Tina January 19 2020 Illinois Senate president race Accusations of personal betrayal and payback fly furiously Chicago Sun Times Retrieved April 3 2020 Gorner Jeremy December 22 2021 State Sen Kimberly Lightford carjacked in suburban Broadview The Chicago Tribune Retrieved December 23 2021 a b State Sen Kimberly Lightford s husband exchanged gunfire with at least one suspect during carjacking earlier this week police say Chicago Tribune December 23 2021 a b State Sen Kimberly Lightford recounts harrowing carjacking details I begged them not to shoot us ABC 7 Chicago December 23 2021 Illinois General Assembly Senator Committees ilga gov Retrieved July 4 2022 Sepeda Miller Kiannah May 21 2020 PolitiFact No the novel coronavirus was not man made PolitiFact Retrieved October 22 2020 External links editBiography bills and committees at the 98th Illinois General Assembly By session 98th 97th 96th 95th 94th 93rd Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford legislative website Senator Kimberly Lightford at Illinois Senate Democrats Profile at Vote Smart Illinois Senate Preceded byJames Clayborne Jr Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate2019 present Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kimberly Lightford amp oldid 1211376942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
