November 05, 2012
State Sen. Toi Hutchinson will speak Nov. 8
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson will provide insights into her emerging political career next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.
Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, is part of the Institute's "Women in Politics" series. Her presentation is at noon, Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Institute lobby, 1231 Lincoln Drive, in the old U.S. Forestry Building.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the "Women in Politics" session with Toi Hutchinson. For more information, contact Matt Baughman, Institute associate director, at 618/453-4009, or 618-201-0082.
The event is free, but as part of the "Pizza and Politics" sessions, Institute officials encourage registration. To register, contact Institute project coordinator Carol Greenlee at 618/453-4078 or by email at cgreenlee@siu.edu.
Hutchinson is a former village clerk for Olympia Fields and chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson. In January 2009, Hutchinson was appointed to represent the 40th District, and was elected in 2010. Her district includes portions of Cook, Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties. She will face Republican challenger Joseph Marshall in the Tuesday, Nov. 6, general election.
Hutchinson spoke to students from across the state four years ago at the Institute's annual "Youth Government Day" in Springfield.
"Her experiences in politics and in the Legislature can help students and women interested in politics learn about how to get involved, campaign for, and serve in public office," Institute Director David Yepsen said. "African-Americans and women often face special hurdles in politics, and the senator has overcome them all to become an emerging leader in the state's legislature and politics."
Hutchinson is chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, and she co-hosted statewide hearings on Illinois' business tax structure. She is also vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Hutchinson earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a student at Northern Illinois University's School of Law when she began her term in the state senate.
For more information on the program, contact the Institute at 618/453-4009 or visit paulsimoninstitute.org/
.