Karen Hasara
Encyclopedia
Karen Hasara is a Republican
leader in Illinois, having served as an elected official for 28 years. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Springfield Mass Transit District. http://www.smtd.org/displayPage.asp?pID=13
Hasara began her government career by being elected to the Sangamon County Board in 1975, and served as Sangamon County Circuit Clerk from 1980 to 1985.
In 1986, Hasara was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
, where she served the 100th District, until being elected to the Illinois Senate
in the newly formed 50th Legislative District in 1992.
In 1995, Hasara won a highly contested election, to become the first female mayor of Springfield, Illinois
. She was re-elected in 1999, and served until her term ended in 2003. As mayor, she made two trips to Ukraine
, and Springfield became one of the partners of the U.S. Ukraine Foundation. Mayor Hasara was also greatly involved in Sister Cities International
, and under her leadership, Springfield gained two additional sister cities
(in Mexico and Ireland).
Hasara currently serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. http://www.uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/about-us/board-of-directors/board-members/index.php Since leaving elected office, she has worked in Russia
and several Eastern Europe
an countries, in the fields of tourism and economic development. As part of the Women in Government program, she has trained women in these nations in areas such a being candidates for office, constituent services, and other matters.
Hasara has also served on the boards of the World Affairs Council
and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
, and is the Secretary of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, as well as a member of the Rotary Club and the Junior League
of Springfield. In 2007, she was appointed Trustee of the Springfield Mass Transit District.
More recently, Hasara endorsed Aaron Schock
in the 2008 Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois' 18th congressional district
, and appeared both in mailers and a television ad http://www.aaronschock.com/media4.html for his campaign.
Before entering public service, Hasara was a real estate broker and Director of the National Academy of Real Estate school in Springfield. She previously worked as a teacher at a local elementary school. In 1973, she earned a B.S. in psychology and elementary education from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield
), and returned to UIS to earn an M.A. in legal studies in 1992.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
leader in Illinois, having served as an elected official for 28 years. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Springfield Mass Transit District. http://www.smtd.org/displayPage.asp?pID=13
Hasara began her government career by being elected to the Sangamon County Board in 1975, and served as Sangamon County Circuit Clerk from 1980 to 1985.
In 1986, Hasara was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, where she served the 100th District, until being elected to the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
in the newly formed 50th Legislative District in 1992.
In 1995, Hasara won a highly contested election, to become the first female mayor of Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. She was re-elected in 1999, and served until her term ended in 2003. As mayor, she made two trips to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and Springfield became one of the partners of the U.S. Ukraine Foundation. Mayor Hasara was also greatly involved in Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
, and under her leadership, Springfield gained two additional sister cities
Sister cities of Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois, USA has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, they include the following places: Villach Unknown Killarney Unknown San Pedro Unknown Ashikaga Unknown...
(in Mexico and Ireland).
Hasara currently serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy. http://www.uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/about-us/board-of-directors/board-members/index.php Since leaving elected office, she has worked in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and several Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an countries, in the fields of tourism and economic development. As part of the Women in Government program, she has trained women in these nations in areas such a being candidates for office, constituent services, and other matters.
Hasara has also served on the boards of the World Affairs Council
World Affairs Council
World Affairs Council may refer to:* World Affairs Councils of America, a non-profit, non-partisan umbrella organization for world affairs councils throughout the United States...
and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, and is the Secretary of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, as well as a member of the Rotary Club and the Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
of Springfield. In 2007, she was appointed Trustee of the Springfield Mass Transit District.
More recently, Hasara endorsed Aaron Schock
Aaron Schock
Aaron Schock is the United States Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Peoria and includes part of Springfield. At the age of , Schock is currently the youngest U.S. representative and the first member of the U.S. Congress born...
in the 2008 Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois' 18th congressional district
Illinois' 18th congressional district
The 18th Congressional District of Illinois covers central and western Illinois, including the cities of Jacksonville, Peoria, and Springfield. It is represented by Aaron Schock.-Voting:-2008:...
, and appeared both in mailers and a television ad http://www.aaronschock.com/media4.html for his campaign.
Before entering public service, Hasara was a real estate broker and Director of the National Academy of Real Estate school in Springfield. She previously worked as a teacher at a local elementary school. In 1973, she earned a B.S. in psychology and elementary education from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
), and returned to UIS to earn an M.A. in legal studies in 1992.
External links
- Karen Hasara. Skirting Convention: 12 Women Who Changed Springfield. WUISWUISWUIS , is a National Public Radio-affiliated station in Springfield, Illinois, USA. It primarily features National Public Radio programming. The station is owned by and based at the University of Illinois at Springfield. It operates a full-time satellite, WIPA in Pittsfield, Illinois...
. August 23, 2007. Accessed July 1, 2008. - The Honorable Karen E. Hasara. Board and Staff - Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. Accessed July 1, 2008.
- UIAA: Springfield: Award Recipients: Distinguished Service Award. 2007 Recipient. University of Illinois Alumni Association at Springfield. Accessed July 1, 2008.
- Karen Hasara, Associate. ITEBS & Associates LLC. Accessed July 1, 2008.