Earlean Collins

Earlean Collins is Commissioner for the 1st district of Cook County, Illinois, on the west side of Chicago.

Early life

Collins is a graduate of the University of Illinois.

Public service

Before her election as a commissioner, Collins was an Illinois State Senator and an Assistant Administrator of Children and Family Services. Collins was the first African-American woman elected to the Illinois Senate.

Cook County Commissioner

As a Cook County Commissioner, Collins is Chairperson of the Business and Economic Development, Public Health, and Family Court and Juvenile Detention Center Committees. Additionally, Collins is a member of nine committees: Construction, Litigation, Tax Delinquency, Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations, Rules, Health and Hospitals, Finance, Zoning and Building, and Roads and Bridges.

Her top issues are improving conditions for the mentally ill in Cook County Jail and improving community-based mental health treatment. She also wants to increase affordable housing in the county and to train people to repair houses.

As Cook County Board Commissioner, Beavers voted to uphold a historic 2008 Cook County sales tax increase, remaining the highest in the nation. As a result the Chicago Tribune has encouraged voters to vote against her in the 2010 elections.

References

* Stevens, Susan S. "Collins has low-profile challenger for Cook County Commissioner," "The Gazette (Chicago)," Nov. 3, 2006.