WiM3 Presents: Women in Leadership - You don't have to have a political resume to run for office!

Description

Evelyn Sanguinetti served as not only the first Latina Lieutenant Governor of the state, but of the entire country. She is a wife, working mother of three and an attorney by trade. She was formerly an adjunct professor of law, an Assistant Illinois Attorney General and a Wheaton City Councilwoman.

Sanguinetti was born in Hialeah, a neighborhood outside of Miami, Florida, to teenage parents - her mother a Cuban refugee and her father an Ecuadorian immigrant. While they were of little means, her parents were determined to give her every opportunity to succeed. Growing up, Sanguinetti developed a love for the arts. She learned how to play the piano at a local community center and was accepted into The New World School of the Arts in Miami. Sanguinetti not only became an accomplished pianist, but she cultivated a love for learning. This educational opportunity allowed her to pursue a college degree at Florida International University.

Following graduation, Sanguinetti moved to Chicago to attend The John Marshall Law School where she developed an understanding and passion for the law and for Illinois. She soon joined Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan’s office as an Assistant Attorney General where she fought to protect the people of the State of Illinois. In 2007, Sanguinetti suffered an accident which severely impaired her ability to walk. Subsequent medical examinations revealed that she has Multiple Sclerosis.  Despite this grim diagnosis, Sanguinetti vowed to never let her MS stop her.

After fully regaining her ability to walk for prolonged periods, Sanguinetti decided to enter public life. She proceeded to run for and win an election to the Wheaton City Council on a platform of delivering efficient, streamlined government to the people of Wheaton.

In 2013, Sanguinetti caught the attention of state and national leaders, and was chosen to run for Illinois Lieutenant Governor. She was elected in 2014 as the 47th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois. In her four years in office, Sanguinetti has focused on helping to improve the lives of all Illinoisans through the delivery of more efficient government, providing health care access to all regions of the state, quality educational opportunities to all residents regardless of income or location, and economic opportunity to small businesses throughout the state.

From humble beginnings in Hialeah, Florida, to becoming the nation’s first Latina Lieutenant Governor, Sanguinetti has never forgotten where she came from or lost the desire to excel in whatever role comes her way.