State Representative Patti Bellock Announces Retirement

HINSDALE, IL — State Representative and Hinsdale Republican Patti Bellock announced that she will not seek re-election to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018. According to a release from her office, she will continue to focus on serving her constituents in the 47th District and continuing her work on improving access to quality health care until the completion of her current term in January 2019.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community in the Illinois General Assembly,” Bellock said in a release. “I would like to thank my family, friends and the residents of my district for their support over the years and to all those who suggested ideas for legislation that we were able to enact into public policy together. Making a positive difference in the lives of others has been the greatest reward in this job."

"Next year will be time to give someone else the opportunity to serve our community in the Illinois House of Representatives," Bellock added in the release. "Until then, I look forward to continuing to work with my constituents and my colleagues to make progress on many important issues until the end of my term in January 2019.”

According to the release from her office, Bellock became the first woman in Illinois history to serve as Deputy Leader of a legislative caucus when she was appointed Deputy House Minority Leader in 2013, a position she continues to hold.

According to her website, Bellock has been a resident of Hinsdale for 40 years and is serving her tenth term in office. The 47th District includes the communities of: Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Westmont, Clarendon Hills and Oak Brook Terrace.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs released a statement about Bellock's retirement.

“I have been privileged to serve alongside Patti Bellock since she first came to the Illinois General Assembly in 1999. Patti has brought the common-sense approach of a mother and grandmother to her public role, combining a keen understanding of how the law impacts people’s lives with a depth of knowledge and expertise in key policy areas unequaled among her peers," he said in a release.

He added, "Patti’s unparalleled work ethic has been a tremendous asset to our caucus, particularly over the past four years in her role as our Deputy Leader, the first woman in Illinois history to serve in that post. Patti will long be remembered as an extraordinary leader and a tireless advocate for Illinois families; particularly on health care, disability and budget issues."

Leader Durkin appointed Representative Bellock to the position of Deputy House Republican Leader in October 2013. According to the release, Bellock also currently serves as a budget negotiator for the House Republican Caucus, Minority Spokeswoman for the House Human Services and Human Services Appropriations Committees, respectively, as well as being the co-chair of the Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force. She has been a member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 1999.

Photo via State Rep. Bellock's website.