Deb Mell

Deborah L. Mell, commonly known as Deb Mell, is an American politician from Chicago. She is the Democratic nominee for the 40th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in 2008. The seat is considered safe Democratic and Mell looks set to be elected with little difficulty but she is nevertheless facing opponents from the Republican and Green parties. The 40th district seat, located on Chicago's northwest side, is currently held by Rep. Rich Bradley but, following Mell's announcement that she was running, Bradley decided not to seek re-election, choosing instead to challenge Sen. Iris Martinez for a seat in the Illinois Senate.

Mell was educated in Chicago, at St John Berchman’s Elementary School and St Scholastica High School. She then attended Cornell College with a dual major in political science and history, before earning a culinary arts degree from California Culinary Academy. She returned to Chicago in 2000 and began working at Christy Webber Landscape, Chicago’s largest landscaping company.

Mell is the daughter of long-time Alderman Richard Mell and the sister-in-law of Governor Rod Blagojevich. She is openly lesbian and attracted considerable media attention when she was arrested in 2004 while protesting her inability to get a same-sex marriage licence from the Cook County clerk's office. Her partner is Christin Baker. Her campaign has won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Mell currently serves on Mayor Richard M. Daley's Advisory Council for Human Relations and is active in Equality Illinois. She has received a National Organization for Women award for her activism, as well as the Howard Brown Cornerstone Award for community excellence.

References

External links

• Campaign website