Greg Harris (Illinois)

Infobox State Representative
name=Rep. Greg Harris

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width=145
state_house=Illinois
district=13^th
term_start=January 2007
term_end=present
preceded=Larry McKeon
succeeded=
date of birth=birth date and age|1955|06|05
place of birth=Denver, Colorado
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=
profession=
religion=
residence=Chicago, Illinois
party=Democratic|

Gregory S. Harris is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, having represented the state's 13th district since 2007. He was elected in November 2006, having been selected by the 13th district's Democratic ward committeemen to replace Larry McKeon as the party's nominee on the November ballot. [http://www.larrymckeon.com/html/pr/McKeon-Congratulates-Greg-Harris-176.asp McKeon Congratulates Greg Harris] ] No Republican filed for the District 13 seat in downtown Chicago so he was elected unopposed. [http://www.chicagoelections.com/ Chicago Board of Elections] ] He will be unopposed for re-election in 2008. [http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/SelectSearchType.aspx?id=21 Illinois State Board of Elections] ]

McKeon, who had held the seat for five terms, announced his intention to retire from the legislature in July 2006. He had, though, already been re-elected unopposed and it fell to the local Democratic committeemen to select his successor on the ballot. Harris, like McKeon, is both openly gay and HIV-positive.

At the time of his selection, Harris had been chief of staff to Chicago’s 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith for 14 years. An alumnus of the University of Colorado, he had previously worked for social service agencies.

Harris is currently the only openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly. In 2008, he looks set to be joined by lesbian Deb Mell, who is running unopposed in the 40th district on Chicago's northwest side.

References

External links

* [http://www.gregharris.org/ Greg Harris] official campaign website
* [http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=1324 Illinois General Assembly - Representative Greg Harris (D) 13th District] official IL House website
** [http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepBills.asp?MemberID=1324 Bills] [http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepCommittees.asp?MemberID=1324 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=69268 Project Vote Smart - Representative Gregory 'Greg' Harris (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Gregory Harris
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=433624 2006] campaign contributions
* [http://www.housedem.state.il.us/members/harrisg/index.htm Illinois House Democrats - Gregory Harris] profile