Mary E. Flowers

Mary E. Flowers (born July 31, 1951) is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives and serves as the House Deputy Majority Leader.[2] She represented the 31st district from January 9, 1985 to January 13, 1993, represented the 21st district from January 13, 1993 to January 8, 2003, and represents the 31st district again since January 8, 2003. On January 14, 2021, Flowers became the longest serving African-American legislator in Illinois history.[3]

Mary E. Flowers
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 31st district
Assumed office
January 8, 2003
Preceded byJames C. Taylor[1]
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 21st district
In office
January 13, 1993 – January 8, 2003
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
January 9, 1985 – January 13, 1993
Personal details
Born (1951-07-31) July 31, 1951
Inverness, Mississippi
Political partyDemocratic

Early life and education

Flowers was born on July 31, 1951, in Inverness, Mississippi. Her family moved to Chicago when she was a child. She attended local schools in Chicago, Kennedy King Community College and the University of Illinois-Chicago Circle.[4]

Political career

Mary Flowers was first elected to the 84th General Assembly as a Democrat from the 31st district in 1985. She is currently serving her 19th term as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and serves as House Deputy Majority Leader for the 102nd General Assembly. [5]

Legislative career

Representative Flowers' primary legislative focus has been on health and child welfare matters. She has been the Principal Sponsor of legislation related to Medical Patients Rights, Medical Managed Care Reform, Health Insurance Reforms, Hospital and Nursing Home Staffing Standards, Licensure of Lay Midwives, Adverse Health Event Reporting, Health Facility Regulatory Reform, Medical and Dental Practice reforms, and Public Health/Communicable Disease Control. She has also been the primary sponsor of legislation regarding Welfare Reform, Elementary & Secondary School Reforms, and Juvenile Justice Reforms.

Over the course of 18 General Assemblies Representative Flowers has served on several different committees covering an extraordinary range of topics and issues in the House of Representatives. Below is a listing of her committee assignments.[6][7]

  • Health Care Availability & Accessibility (Chair) 100th, 99th. 98th, 97th General Assemblies
  • Health Care Availability & Access (Chair) 96th through 90th General Assemblies
  • Health & Healthcare Disparities 99th, 98th, 97th and 96th General Assemblies
  • Health Care & Human Services 89th General Assembly
  • Healthy Illinois Plan 93rd General Assembly
  • Youth & Young Adults 99th General Assembly
  • Economic Justice & Equity 100th General Assembly
  • Economic Opportunity 100th General Assembly
  • Medicaid Reform 96th General Assembly
  • Medicaid Reform, Family & Children 96th General Assembly
  • Human Services 100th through the 90th, and 84th General Assemblies
  • The Disabled Community 92nd General Assembly
  • Restorative Justice 100th, 99th, and 98th General Assemblies
  • Economic Development & Housing 99th General Assembly
  • Higher Education 100th, 99th, 98th, 97th, 96th, 95th, and 84th General Assemblies
  • Juvenile Justice & System-Involved Youth 99th General Assembly
  • Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development 99th and 97th General Assemblies
  • Accountability & Administrative Review 98th General Assembly
  • Environmental Health 97th General Assembly
  • Special Investigative Committee 96th and 95th General Assemblies
  • Agriculture & Conservation 97th and 96th General Assemblies
  • Smart Growth & Regional Planning (Vice Chair) 95th General Assembly
  • Department of Children & Family Services Oversight 95th General Assembly
  • Drivers Education & Safety 95th General Assembly
  • International Trade & Commerce 94th General Assembly
  • Fee For Services Initiatives 94th and 93rd General Assemblies
  • Special Committee and Tobacco Settlement Proceeds 92nd General Assembly
  • Special Committee on Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Distribution 91st General Assembly
  • Children & Youth 92nd and 91st General Assemblies
  • Labor and Commerce 87th, 86th, 85th, and 84th General Assemblies
  • Commerce & Business Development 93rd and (Vice Chair) 92nd General Assemblies
  • Financial Institutions 89th, 86th and 85th General Assemblies
  • Consumer Protection 89th General Assembly
  • Insurance (Minority Spokesperson) 89th General Assembly
  • Executive 88th, 87th and 86th General Assemblies
  • Public Utilities 88th, (Vice-Chair) 87th, (Vice-Chair) 86th, and (Vice-Chair) 85th General Assembly
  • Real Estate Law (Chair) 87th General Assembly
  • Registration & Regulation 87th. 86th, and 85th General Assemblies
  • Museums, Arts& Cultural Enhancement 100th and 98th General Assemblies
  • Implementation of Chicago School Reform 86th General Assembly
  • Appropriations – Elementary & Secondary Education (Vice Chair) 94th and (Vice Chair) 93rd General Assemblies
  • Appropriations – Human Services 90thand 87th General Assemblies.
  • Appropriations Higher Education 97th and 96th General Assemblies
  • Appropriations II 86th, 85th, and 84th General Assemblies
  • Appropriations – General Services 88th General Assembly
  • Public Utilities (Minority Spokesperson) 88th, (Vice Chair) 87th, (Vice Chair) 86th, (Vice Chair 85th General Assembly)
  • Small Business 85th and 84th General Assemblies
  • Housing 85th General Assembly
  • World's Fair 1992 84th General Assembly

Representative Flowers was the Primary Sponsor of many bills that became law, including but not limited to the following list of major accomplishments.[8][9]

  • The Perinatal HIV Prevention Act (HB 2800, PA 100-265)
  • Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council Act (SB 1696, PA 100-459)
  • Opportunities for At Risk 'Women Act (HB 3284, PA 99-416)
  • Patients' Right to Know Act (HB 105, PA 97-280)
  • Administration of Psychotropic Medications to Children Act (HB 286, PA 97-245)
  • Public Health Program Beneficiary Employer Disclosure Law (SB1157, PA 94-242)
  • Illinois Adverse Health Care Events Reporting Law of 2005 (SB 1157, PA 94-242)
  • Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act (SB 251 PA91-617)
  • Fair Patient Billing Act (HB 4999, PA 94-885)
  • Hospital Report Card Act (SB 59, PA 93-563)
  • Illinois Family Case Management Act (HB 612, PA 94-407)
  • A law assuring pregnant women job security through "reasonable accommodation (HB 8, PA 98-1050)
  • Re-branding free-standing "Emergent" Care Centers (HB 81, PA 93-540)
  • A law that prohibits hospitals from promulgating policies or implementing practices that determine differing standards of obstetrical care based on patient's source of payment or ability to pay (HB 486, PA 93-981)
  • A law requiring the IL Department of Public Health to effect policies and procedures to monitor and control infections from MDR0's (Multi-drug resistant organisms), MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and Clostridium, especially as these impact health care facilities HB 192 (PA 95-0282)
  • A law requiring the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop hospital standards of perinatal care which assure that families are provided information to assist in obtaining special education for children with disabilities (HB 890 PA84-462)
  • A law that rebranded existing programs into the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (HB 3999, PA 96-411)

She was also the primary sponsor of HB 2942 (PA 85-1313) a law that established March 4 as a commemorative holiday for Chicago School District 299 to be known as Mayors' Day, when past chief executive officers of Chicago are honored, particularly Richard J. Daley and Harold Washington.

Representative Flowers supports "Single Payer" Universal Health Care, and has repeatedly filed related legislation and conducted public hearings to promote such reforms throughout her legislative career – House Bill 311, The Illinois Universal Health Care Act – of the 97th General Assembly is the primary model.

She has also devoted much of her energy toward the safety of children in substitute care within the child welfare system regulated and administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, an agency and system that has experienced repeated tragedies and the subject of continuous judicial oversight.[10][11]

She received many awards for distinguished services, including 1993 "Legislator of the Year" award from Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, which is now the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health Care.[12]

Electoral history
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1984[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 11,494 52.08
Democratic Peggy Smith Martin 5,544 25.12
Democratic James A. Moore, Jr. 5,034 22.81
Total votes 22,072 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1984[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 32,273 100.0
N/A Write-ins 1 0.00
Total votes 32,274 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1986[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,139 84.27
Democratic Taylor Pouncey 1,453 9.32
Democratic Charles L. Meeks 1,000 6.41
Total votes 15,592 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1986[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 20,778 97.09
Republican Mildred J. Thompson 622 2.90
Total votes 21,400 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1988[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 29,723 100.0
Total votes 29,723 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1990[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 11,639 77.39
Democratic Monica Faith Stewart 2,296 15.26
Democratic David Whitehead 416 2.76
Democratic Marvin S. Douglas Jr. 346 2.30
Democratic Larry Williams 341 2.26
Total votes 15,038 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1990[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 15,900 100.0
Total votes 15,900 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District Democratic Primary, 1992[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 14,580 61.70
Democratic Pamela James Strain 3,318 14.04
Democratic Dorothy Cooks 1,948 8.24
Democratic Bernetta Pearson 1,920 8.12
Democratic Ken Bennett 1,863 7.88
Total votes 23,629 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1992[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 35,721 87.05
Republican Charles P. Janulis 5,316 12.95
Total votes 41,037 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1994[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 21,868 87.89
Republican Kirk J. Surridge 3,013 12.11
Total votes 24,881 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1996[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 32,623 92.82
Republican Melvin R. Sexton 2,524 7.18
Total votes 35,147 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District Democratic Primary, 1998[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,522 99.63
Democratic Diana B. Haywood 50 0.37
Total votes 13,572 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1998[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 27,728 100.0
Total votes 27,728 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 2000[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 32,340 100.0
Total votes 32,340 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2002[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 17,933 100.0
Total votes 17,933 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2002[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 25,333 87.92
Republican C. A. Lofton 3,481 12.08
Total votes 28,814 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2004[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,909 100.0
Total votes 36,909 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2006[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 25,042 100.0
Total votes 25,042 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2008[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,087 100.0
Total votes 36,087 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2010[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 24,772 100.0
Total votes 24,772 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2012[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,765 100.0
Total votes 36,765 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2014[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 26,394 100.0
Total votes 26,394 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2016[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,904 100.0
Total votes 36,904 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 14,077 82.78
Democratic Willie Preston 2,929 17.22
Total votes 17,006 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2018[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 30,214 100.0
Total votes 30,214 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2020[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,449 71.78
Democratic Samantha Simpson 5,287 28.22
Total votes 18,736 100.0

References
  1. Edgar, Jim, ed. (1984). "Biographical Sketch of James C. Taylor". Illinois Blue Book 1983-1984. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 75.
  2. "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  3. "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HR0012". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. "Representative Mary E. Flowers (D)". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  6. "Illinois General Assembly Home Page". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  7. Illinois Legislative Research Unit - provided a printed Committee List - not available online.
  8. "Illinois General Assembly Home Page". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  9. Illinois Legislative Synopsis and Digest, University Library, University of Illinois http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ILHarvest/ILLegislative/
  10. "Illinois lawmakers seek DCFS data about the caseloads of child welfare investigators", By Gary Marx and David Jackson, Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2017 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-dcfs-lawmakers-caseloads-met-20170926-story.html
  11. "Troubled DCFS outlines major overhaul, but budget crisis could hurt plans", By Duaa Eldeib, Chicago Tribune, April 24, 2016 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/rtc/ct-dcfs-reform-plan-met-20160403-story.html
  12. "Illinois Association for Behavioral Health - Springfield, Illinois | IABH". www.ilabh.org. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  13. "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  14. State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election, General Primary, March 20, 1990. Illinois State Board of Elections. Jan 1991. p. 83.
  15. State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the General Election, November 6, 1990. Illinois State Board of Elections. Jan 1991. p. 57.
  16. State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election General Primary, March 17, 1992. Illinois State Board of Elections. May 1992. p. 145. OCLC 4960540.
  17. Illinois blue book, 1993-1994. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1994. p. 407. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  18. Illinois blue book, 1995-1996. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1996. p. 411. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  19. Illinois blue book, 1997-1998. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1998. p. 412. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  20. "Election Results 1998 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  21. "Election Results 1998 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  22. "Election Results 2000 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  23. "Election Results 2002 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  24. "Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  25. "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  26. "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  27. "Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  28. "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  29. "Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  30. "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  31. "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  32. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  33. "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  34. "Election Results 2020 General Primary". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
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