Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale) will retire at the end of her current term, according to a press release.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community in the Illinois General Assembly,” Bellock said in a statement. “I would like to thank my family, friends, and the residents of my district for their support over the years and to all those who suggested ideas for legislation that we were able to enact into public policy together. Making a positive difference in the lives of others has been the greatest reward in this job.”

According to the release, Bellock’s 2013 appointment to the deputy House minority leader position marked the first time a woman held a deputy leader position for any legislative caucus in Illinois. The press release noted highlights of her career as a legislator, including passage of the SMART Act and its improvements to health care in the state, and as well her work as a budget negotiator and member of the House Human Service and House Human Service Appropriations committees and the Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force. Her honors include the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Champion of Free Enterprise award, the State Treasurer’s Illinois Women Making a Difference award, as well as numerous Legislator of the Year awards from various organizations.

Illinois State Capitol | By Agriculture at English Wikipedia - Original uploader was Agriculture at en.wikipediaTransferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Druffeler using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10113961

“Next year will be time to give someone else the opportunity to serve our community in the Illinois House of Representatives,” Bellock said in her statement. “Until then, I look forward to continuing to work with my constituents and my colleagues to make progress on many important issues until the end of my term in January 2019.”