Deb Mell
| Deb Mell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 33rd ward | |
|
Assumed office July 24, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Mell |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 40th district |
|
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In office January 14, 2009 – July 24, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Rich Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Andrade Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 30, 1968 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Domestic partner | Christin Baker |
| Relations |
Patricia (sister) Richard (brother) Rod Blagojevich (brother-in-law) |
| Parents | Richard Mell Marge Mell |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Cornell College |
| Website | debmell.org |
Deborah L. "Deb" Mell is an American politician from Chicago. She is a Democrat and a member of the Chicago City Council, representing the 33rd ward. She previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013.
Mell is the daughter of long-time Alderman Richard Mell. Her sister, former Illinois First Lady Patti, is married to former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
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.
Mell returned to Chicago in 2000 and began working at Christy Webber Landscape, Chicago’s largest landscaping company owned by prominent lesbian Christy Webber.
Mell was arrested in 2004 while protesting her inability to get a same-sex marriage license from the Cook County clerk's office.
The 40th district, located on Chicago's northwest side, was represented by Rep. Rich Bradley prior to 2008. Bradley decided not to seek re-election in 2008 after Mell announced that she was running, choosing instead to challenge Sen. Iris Martinez for a seat in the Illinois Senate. Mell's campaign had the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. She won 75% of the vote in the general election of November 4, 2008; her opponents, Republican Christine Nere-Foss and Green Party candidate Heather Benno, garnered 15% and 10% respectively.
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