She served as a member of the
Illinois House of Representatives from the 41st district (1981–82), and as a member of the
Illinois Senate from the 20th district from 1983 until she resigned her seat in late 1999 after the death of her son Steve, reportedly to take care of his orphaned children, but in January 2000 was appointed to a $85,000-a-year job post as chief of
communications and community relations for the
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. She was succeeded by
Peter Roskam. == George Ryan connection ==