Linda Chapa LaVia
Linda Chapa LaVia was a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 83rd District from 2003 until 2019, when she retired to accept an appointment to the cabinet of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. The district covers part of Kane County, including the city of Aurora. She was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2002 defeating Bob O'Connor, an Aurora Alderman-At-Large, becoming the first Hispanic to win a seat in the state legislature outside of Cook County.
In 2014, Chapa LaVia made racial comments by calling state Representative John Anthony a "half." Anthony is black with Puerto Rican heritage. Chap LaVia later apologized for her remarks on the House floor. In her apology she said, "I want to deeply apologize to my side of the aisle over here, my colleagues, my brothers and sisters for my personality meltdown yesterday."
On Tuesday, June 24, 2015 she announced her candidacy for Mayor of Aurora, Illinois However, she did not advance past the Aurora primary.
The daughter of Texas cotton pickers, Linda attended Northern Illinois University and enrolled in the R.O.T.C. program, later graduating and becoming an officer in the United States Army.
Chapa LaVia served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
In 2018, Chapa LaVia was appointed to Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker's transition committee on Veterans Affairs. On February 15, 2019, Governor Pritzker announced that Chapa LaVia would be appointed the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. Chapa LaVia, her husband and two children live in Aurora.
