Susana Mendoza | Biography



BIOGRAPHY
Susana Mendoza was sworn in as City Clerk of Chicago on May 16, 2011 and is the first woman ever elected to the Office of the City Clerk. Before City Clerk, she proudly served six terms as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011, representing the 1st District of Illinois - which includes the Chicago communities of Brighton Park, Little Village, Gage Park, and Back of the Yards. As an Illinois State Representative, she has been publicly recognized for her leadership and legislation on social services, education, law enforcement and job creation. Download the biography for Susana Mendoza (PDF) Susana Mendoza graduated from Bolingbrook High School where she earned All-State and All-Midwest honors in varsity soccer. She attended Northeast Missouri State University, (now Truman State University) on a soccer and academic scholarship, earning All-Midwest honors in soccer and a B.A. in Business Administration. Susana Mendoza was elected as the youngest member of the 92nd General Assembly in 2001. She has proven to be an aggressive leader with her efforts to improve education, public health, public safety and living conditions for the people of Illinois and the community she serves. Rep. Susana Mendoza was also a leading sponsor of HR 1650 which created the panel to impeach former Governor Blagojevich and she served as an active alternate member of the impeachment committee. Susana Mendoza has served as Co-Chairperson of the Conference of Women Legislators and twice served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention (DNC). She was also a co-founder of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus. In 2004, she was named one of Chicago Crain's Chicago Business Magazine "40 under 40" and in May of 2011, she was highlighted by Chicago Crain's Chicago Business Magazine in their "Women to Watch" series. The U.S. Department of State has selected Rep. Susana Mendoza as part of its Professional Speaker's Program in an effort to have her promote democracy and leadership in the countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and Chile. As a legislator and/or the Chairman of the International Trade and Commerce Committee, Rep. Susana Mendoza has traveled to China, Turkey, Ireland, and El Salvador. Most recently, she was selected by Robin Read, the President & CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators, as one of only seven women nationally to travel to Iraq where she helped monitor the Iraqi elections on March 7, 2010. Watch the videos of Susana Mendoza in Iraq.(YouTube) Download the biography for Susana Mendoza (PDF) Download the most recent endorsement list for Susana Mendoza for Chicago City Clerk. (PDF)