Heather Steans brings outstanding experience to her position as the 7th District State Senator.

Heather started her first term on February 11, 2008.  She graduated from Princeton with a B.A. in Urban Studies and received her M.A. in public policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

An advocate for good public policy, Heather’s professional career has focused on government finance, economic development and education reform efforts.  She has:

• Managed the budgets of state agencies in Illinois and Wisconsin where she improved customer service and reduced costs.
• Developed the Chicago Public Schools’ multi-year strategic plan that produced education reforms.
• Directed urban economic development initiatives for the Civic Committee.
• Successfully launched programs to increase housing and asset development and promote job growth in Chicago.

She currently serves in the Illinois Senate as Chairperson of Appropriations I, and Vice Chairperson for the Environment Committee. She also serves on the Human Services and Public Health committees. Steans is active in developing equal protection and access to benefits for all as seen in her commitment to Medicaid reform, funding human services, leading the charge on nursing home reforms, and passing civil union legislation with the goal of full marriage equality.

In her time in the legislature, Heather has been proud to receive a number of awards from advocacy groups, including:

Respiratory Health Association – Lung Health Champion Award 2010
Illinois Recycling Association – Outstanding Government Leadership Award 2010
Chicago Battered Women’s Network – Civic Leadership Award 2010
Data Quality Campaign – DQC Leadership Award State Policymaker 2009
Arc of Illinois – Legislator of the Year Award 2009
Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association – Legislative Leadership Award 2008
Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence – Legislative Advocacy Award 2009
Heartland Alliance 25th Anniversary Award 2009
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association – Legislative Lifesaver Award 2009
illinoisvictims.org – Legislative Hero Award 2008
Illinois Farm Bureau – Activator Award 2008 and 2010
Voices for Illinois Children – Kids Count Award 2008

Heather Steans and her husband, Leo Smith are raising their three children in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago.