Sara Feigenholtz
Encyclopedia
Sara Feigenholtz is a Democratic
member of the Illinois House of Representatives
who has represented the 12th District since 1995. The District includes the lakefront communities of Lake View, Lincoln Park
and the Near North neighborhood in the city of Chicago
.
, Poland, worked her way through medical school to become an obstetrician. Many of Dr Buky's patients were unable to care for their children and this was how she came to adopt Sara and her brother. Feigenholz attributes the origin of her political commitment to health care as a basic right to the childhood experience of patients calling to see Dr Buky at the family home in Lake View, Chicago, and her mother never turning anyone away, even those unable to pay.
Feigenholtz earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and speech and performing arts from Northeastern Illinois University
. and went on to earn a fellowship degree from the University of Illinois
School Of Public Health. In 2011, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University
's Kennedy School of Government.
She worked as Chief of Staff to State Representative John Cullerton before becoming a fund-raiser for progressive causes.
Sara Feigenholtz is Chairperson for both the House Appropriations Committee for Human Services and the House Adoption Reform Committee. She serves as the Vice-Chairperson for the Tourism and Conventions Committee and serves on the House Committees for Mass Transit, Insurance, and Environment & Energy.
, who resigned to serve as President Barack Obama
's Chief of Staff.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of 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...
who has represented the 12th District since 1995. The District includes the lakefront communities of Lake View, Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park, is one of the 77 community areas on Chicago, Illinois North Side, USA. Named after Lincoln Park, a vast park bordering Lake Michigan, the community area is anchored by the Lincoln Park Zoo and DePaul University...
and the Near North neighborhood in the city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Background
Sara Feigenholtz's political interests and activity, notably in the areas of adoption, women's issues and health care, reflect her personal experience and family background. Her adoptive mother, Florence Buky, an immigrant from BialystokBialystok
Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Located on the Podlaskie Plain on the banks of the Biała River, Białystok ranks second in terms of population density, eleventh in population, and thirteenth in area, of the cities of Poland...
, Poland, worked her way through medical school to become an obstetrician. Many of Dr Buky's patients were unable to care for their children and this was how she came to adopt Sara and her brother. Feigenholz attributes the origin of her political commitment to health care as a basic right to the childhood experience of patients calling to see Dr Buky at the family home in Lake View, Chicago, and her mother never turning anyone away, even those unable to pay.
Feigenholtz earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and speech and performing arts from Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
. and went on to earn a fellowship degree from the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
School Of Public Health. In 2011, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Kennedy School of Government.
She worked as Chief of Staff to State Representative John Cullerton before becoming a fund-raiser for progressive causes.
State Representative
Feigenholtz was elected to her first term as state representative of Illinois’ 12th District in 1994, defeating a long-standing incumbent. She chose to focus her attention on health care and human services reform. She was a lead sponsor of the Family Health Care Bill. She also campaigned for the introduction of the All Kids program.Sara Feigenholtz is Chairperson for both the House Appropriations Committee for Human Services and the House Adoption Reform Committee. She serves as the Vice-Chairperson for the Tourism and Conventions Committee and serves on the House Committees for Mass Transit, Insurance, and Environment & Energy.
Special congressional election
Feigenholtz came in third place in the 2009 Special Primary Election to fill the 5th congressional district seat vacated by Rahm EmanuelRahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
, who resigned to serve as President 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 Chief of Staff.
External links
- Representative Sara Feigenholtz' State of Illinois website
- Representative Sara Feigenholtz' Campaign website
- Illinois General Assembly - Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D) 12th District – Official Illinois House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Sara Feigenholtz (IL) profile
- Follow the Money - Sara Feigenholtz
- Illinois House Democrats - Sara Feigenholtz profile