Louanner Peters
Encyclopedia
Louanner Peters is a former deputy governor
of Illinois
. She was appointed by Rod Blagojevich
in December 2006, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position.
Peters grew up on a farm in Angie, Louisiana
, and was the ninth of twelve children. She earned a Bachelor's degree in political science at Louisiana State University
in 1971, and a masters degree at the Jane Addams College of Social Work
of the University of Illinois at Chicago
in 1973. She served as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Gus Savage
for 10 years starting in 1981. In 1992, she unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate for Illinois's 2nd congressional district
. She then did campaign work for Washington D.C. mayors Marion Barry
and Anthony Williams
, and for Blagojevich on a contractual basis. She was hired as Blagojevich's deputy chief of staff for social services in 2003, and was promoted to deputy governor in 2006.
According to an anonymous source, Peters is said to be the person referred to as "Senate Candidate 4" in the Blagojevich criminal complaint. In a private conversation, Blagojevich considered appointing Senate Candidate 4 to Barack Obama
's senate seat because he believed he could "count on [Senate Candidate 4], if things got hot, to give [the Senate seat] up and let me parachute over there."
Deputy Governor
A Deputy governor is a gubernatorial official who is subordinated to a governor, rather like a Lieutenant governor.-British colonial cases:In the British empire, there were such colonial offices in :...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. She was appointed by Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
in December 2006, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position.
Peters grew up on a farm in Angie, Louisiana
Angie, Louisiana
Angie is a village in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 240 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Angie is located at ....
, and was the ninth of twelve children. She earned a Bachelor's degree in political science at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 1971, and a masters degree at the Jane Addams College of Social Work
Jane Addams College of Social Work
The Jane Addams College of Social Work is a division of the University of Illinois at Chicago and is located at 1040 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7134.-Mission statement:...
of the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
in 1973. She served as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Gus Savage
Gus Savage
Augustus Alexander "Gus" Savage is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois....
for 10 years starting in 1981. In 1992, she unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate for Illinois's 2nd congressional district
Illinois's 2nd congressional district
Illinois's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Illinois. Based in Cook and Will counties, the district includes the south suburbs of Chicago, extending slightly into Will County, and also includes the city's far southeast side; it covers , making it one of...
. She then did campaign work for Washington D.C. mayors Marion Barry
Marion Barry
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
and Anthony Williams
Anthony A. Williams
Anthony Allen "Tony" Williams is an American politician who served as the fifth mayor of the District of Columbia for two terms, from 1999 to 2007. He had previously served as chief financial officer for the District, managing to balance the budget and achieve a surplus within two years of...
, and for Blagojevich on a contractual basis. She was hired as Blagojevich's deputy chief of staff for social services in 2003, and was promoted to deputy governor in 2006.
According to an anonymous source, Peters is said to be the person referred to as "Senate Candidate 4" in the Blagojevich criminal complaint. In a private conversation, Blagojevich considered appointing Senate Candidate 4 to Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's senate seat because he believed he could "count on [Senate Candidate 4], if things got hot, to give [the Senate seat] up and let me parachute over there."