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Appointed in December of 2002 to complete the vacated term of the late State Representative Douglas Hoeft of Elgin, Ruth Munson has since been elected twice to the post (2004 and 2006) continuing to serve residents of both Kane and Cook Counties in the 43rd District.
As the founder of a software development firm, Ruth brings her expertise in computer technology and business management to the forefront of the Illinois General Assembly, serving as Spokesperson for the House Computer Technology Committee and House Bio-Technology Committee. Additionally, with skills gained as a small business owner, Ruth created and now leads the Illinois Legislative Manufacturing Caucus toward its mission of keeping good paying jobs in our state.
Throughout her tenure, Ruth has earned a number of notable achievements including passage of legislation that creates “fast growth” grants to help our schools cope with increasing student enrollment and tough new laws that protect us from identity theft, gang crime and internet predators. Ruth also fought powerful interests in Springfield to win reforms for residents in manufactured-home communities like Villa Gardens and Willow Lake Estates and she continues to champion that cause.
Ruth is recognized for her ability to work with all residents of the 43rd District to find solutions to difficult problems. She developed a local healthcare partnership to move patients out of emergency rooms and into more appropriate healthcare settings and legislatively created the Health Access Network to protect access to quality specialty healthcare services for our families. Ruth works to keep our kids safe by partnering with local community-based youth development providers to create the Northern Fox Valley AfterSchool & Beyond Network and the Carpentersville Environmental Camp.
Representative Ruth Munson has expanded constituent outreach through district-wide coffees, email newsletters, resource fairs, advisory councils and public hearings, the opening of a Carpentersville satellite office to supplement the Elgin district office, and the formation of a Legislative Roundtable.
Ruth received her BA in Political Science from Northern Illinois University in 1981. Her longstanding personal dedication to public service eventually led her to be elected to the Elgin City Council in 1999. There, Ruth served on the Economic Development Council and Technology Action Team. During her tenure as councilwoman, Elgin revitalized its Center City, expanded its recreational facilities, lowered crime and gang-related activity, and increased its economic development.
Community activities in which Ruth has been involved include the coordination of the “Common Grounds” playground project at McKinley School; serving as a founding member of Elgin’s popular “Fiesta Salsa;” and co-founding of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin. Ruth has served as the fundraising co-chair for the annual YWCA Leader Luncheon, and is a past-board member of the Elgin Community College Foundation and Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Elgin Hispanic Network, Watch City Cosmopolitan Club, Kiwanis Club of Elgin, Circle of Wise Women, and First Congregational Church of Elgin.
Ruth and her husband, Steve, currently reside in Elgin with their two college-aged children. |
