Mary E. Flowers

Last updated
Daniel Coutee
​
​
(m. 1991;died 2019)​
Mary Flowers
Rep Mary Flowers 2024.jpg
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 9, 1985
Education Kennedy-King College
University of Illinois, Chicago

Mary E. Flowers (born July 31, 1951) is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives. Representative Flowers is the longest serving African-American legislator in Illinois history. [1] She represented the 31st district from January 9, 1985 to January 13, 1993, [2] represented the 21st district from January 13, 1993 to January 8, 2003, and represents the 31st district again since January 8, 2003. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Flowers was born on July 31, 1951, in Inverness, Mississippi. Her family moved to Chicago when she was a child. She attended local schools in Chicago, Kennedy King Community College and the University of Illinois at Chicago. [4]

Political career

Mary Flowers was first elected to the 84th General Assembly as a Democrat from the 31st district in 1985. She is currently serving her 19th term as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and served as a House Deputy Majority Leader for the 102nd General Assembly. [3]

In May 2023, Flowers was removed from her leadership position in the General Assembly by Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, allegedly for using a slur and saying that a House staffer resembled Adolf Hitler. [5] Flowers replied that the Speaker had taken her remarks out of context. [6] In 2024, Welch directed more than $1.6 million in campaign contributions to Flowers' challenger in the 2024 Democratic primary. [7] Crawford ultimately defeated Flowers in the primary. [8]

At the conclusion of the current legislative session in January 2025, Flowers' will have served forty years in the Illinois House--the longest tenure of any woman to serve in the history of the Illinois General Assembly. [9]

Illinois State Representative

Committees

During her tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives, Flowers has served on several different committees covering a range of topics and issues in the House of Representatives. Below is a list of her current and historical committee assignments. [10] [11]

As of 2024, Flowers has no committee assignments. [12]

Legislation

Flowers' primary legislative focus has been on health and child welfare matters. She has been the principal sponsor of legislation related to medical patients rights, medical managed care reform, health insurance reforms, hospital and nursing home staffing standards, licensure of direct-entry midwives, adverse health event reporting, health facility regulatory reform, medical and dental practice reforms, and public health/communicable disease control.

Flowers has been the primary sponsor of several bills that became law, including the following list: [10] [13] [14]

Representative Flowers supports universal health care, and has repeatedly filed related legislation and conducted public hearings to promote such reforms throughout her legislative career – House Bill 311, The Illinois Universal Health Care Act – of the 97th General Assembly is the primary model.

Flowers has emphasized the safety of children in substitute care within the child welfare system regulated and administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, an agency and system that has experienced repeated tragedies and the subject of continuous judicial oversight. [15] [16]

Flowers has received awards during her tenure, including 1993 "Legislator of the Year" award from Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, which is now the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health Care. [17]

Personal life

Flowers was married to Daniel Coutee; the couple have one daughter, Makeda. Coutee died in September 2019. [18] Flowers also has two grandchildren. [19]

Electoral history

Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1984 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 11,494 52.08
Democratic Peggy Smith Martin5,54425.12
Democratic James A. Moore, Jr.5,03422.81
Total votes22,072 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1984 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 32,273 100.0
N/AWrite-ins10.00
Total votes32,274 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1986 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,139 84.27
Democratic Taylor Pouncey1,4539.32
Democratic Charles L. Meeks1,0006.41
Total votes15,592 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1986 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 20,778 97.09
Republican Mildred J. Thompson6222.90
Total votes21,400 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1988 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 29,723 100.0
Total votes29,723 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 1990 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 11,639 77.39
Democratic Monica Faith Stewart 2,29615.26
Democratic David Whitehead4162.76
Democratic Marvin S. Douglas Jr.3462.30
Democratic Larry Williams3412.26
Total votes15,038 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 1990 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 15,900 100.0
Total votes15,900 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District Democratic Primary, 1992 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 14,580 61.70
Democratic Pamela James Strain3,31814.04
Democratic Dorothy Cooks1,9488.24
Democratic Bernetta Pearson1,9208.12
Democratic Ken Bennett1,8637.88
Total votes23,629 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1992 [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 35,721 87.05
Republican Charles P. Janulis5,31612.95
Total votes41,037 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1994 [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 21,868 87.89
Republican Kirk J. Surridge3,01312.11
Total votes24,881 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1996 [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 32,623 92.82
Republican Melvin R. Sexton2,5247.18
Total votes35,147 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District Democratic Primary, 1998 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,522 99.63
Democratic Diana B. Haywood500.37
Total votes13,572 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 1998 [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 27,728 100.0
Total votes27,728 100.0
Illinois 21st State House District General Election, 2000 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 32,340 100.0
Total votes32,340 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2002 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 17,933 100.0
Total votes17,933 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2002 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers 25,333 87.92
Republican C. A. Lofton3,48112.08
Total votes28,814 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2004 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,909 100.0
Total votes36,909 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2006 [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 25,042 100.0
Total votes25,042 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2008 [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,087 100.0
Total votes36,087 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2010 [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 24,772 100.0
Total votes24,772 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2012 [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,765 100.0
Total votes36,765 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2014 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 26,394 100.0
Total votes26,394 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2016 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 36,904 100.0
Total votes36,904 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2018 [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 14,077 82.78
Democratic Willie Preston2,92917.22
Total votes17,006 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District General Election, 2018 [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 30,214 100.0
Total votes30,214 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2020 [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent) 13,449 71.78
Democratic Samantha Simpson5,28728.22
Total votes18,736 100.0
Illinois 31st State House District Democratic Primary, 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael Crawford 7,663 69.09
Democratic Mary E. Flowers (incumbent)3,42830.91
Total votes11,091 100.0

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References

  1. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HR0012". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  2. ↑ Edgar, Jim, ed. (1984). "Biographical Sketch of James C. Taylor". Illinois Blue Book 1983-1984. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 75.
  3. 1 2 "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  4. ↑ "Representative Mary E. Flowers (D)". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Degman, Alex. "Rep. Mary Flowers removed from leadership after saying staff member resembled Hitler". nprillinois.org. NPR Illinois, 91.9 UIS. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. ↑ Strausberg, Chinta (2024-03-07). "Black pols rip House Speaker Welch for targeting Rep. Flowers" . Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. ↑ Tribune, Olivia Olander | Chicago (2024-03-22). "Illinois House speaker's office orders Democratic lawmakers to remain silent over Tribune questions". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ↑ Chase, Brett; Loria, Michael; Love, Leah. "Party-backed newcomer Crawford defeats longtime Democratic state Rep. Flowers in primary". Chicago Sun-Times WBEZ Chicago. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Ashley M.; Dawson, Alexis (February 3, 2022). "Illinois Women in Congress and the General Assembly" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois.: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
  10. 1 2 "Illinois General Assembly Home Page". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  11. ↑ Illinois Legislative Research Unit - provided a printed Committee List - not available online.
  12. ↑ "Representative Mary E. Flowers (D), 31st District". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Illinois Legislative Synopsis and Digest, University Library, University of Illinois http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ILHarvest/ILLegislative/
  14. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  15. ↑ "Illinois lawmakers seek DCFS data about the caseloads of child welfare investigators", By Gary Marx and David Jackson, Chicago Tribune, September 25, 2017 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-dcfs-lawmakers-caseloads-met-20170926-story.html
  16. ↑ "Troubled DCFS outlines major overhaul, but budget crisis could hurt plans", By Duaa Eldeib, Chicago Tribune, April 24, 2016 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/rtc/ct-dcfs-reform-plan-met-20160403-story.html
  17. ↑ "Illinois Association for Behavioral Health - Springfield, Illinois | IABH". www.ilabh.org. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  18. ↑ "House Resolution 523". ilga.gov. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography". ilga.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  21. ↑ State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election, General Primary, March 20, 1990. Illinois State Board of Elections. Jan 1991. p. 83.
  22. ↑ State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the General Election, November 6, 1990. Illinois State Board of Elections. Jan 1991. p. 57.
  23. ↑ State of Illinois Official Vote Cast at the Primary Election General Primary, March 17, 1992. Illinois State Board of Elections. May 1992. p. 145. OCLC   4960540.
  24. ↑ Illinois blue book, 1993-1994. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1994. p. 407. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  25. ↑ Illinois blue book, 1995-1996. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1996. p. 411. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  26. ↑ Illinois blue book, 1997-1998. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1998. p. 412. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Election Results 1998 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Election Results 1998 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Election Results 2000 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  30. ↑ "Election Results 2002 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  32. ↑ "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  36. ↑ "Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  38. ↑ "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  39. ↑ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  40. ↑ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved December 6, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  41. ↑ "Election Results 2020 General Primary". Illinois State Board of Elections . Retrieved 2020-04-20.[ permanent dead link ]
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