Meet Deb Mell who will soon be a member of the Illinois State House of Representatives and is Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s sister in law. Read about her below, including her biography and a photo.
Deb Mell
Deborah L. Mell (D.) will start serving her term in the Illinois State House of Representatives in January 2009. Born July 30, 1968, Deb, as she is known, is also a candidate for the US House of Representatives. The 40 year old Ms. Mell is hoping to replace Obama buddy Rahm Emanuel in Illinois’ 5th congressional district. She announced her candidacy for Emanuel’s seat just two days after the chosen one *won* the presidential election, and it’s alleged she has withdrawn from that race.
The openly lesbian Mell is the daughter of long time Chicago Alderman Richard Mell and his wife Marge. She was arrested in 2004 while protesting her inability to get a same-sex marriage license. However, her current partner is Christin Baker, so perhaps it’s a good thing she didn’t marry. Divorce is hard on most couples.
Deb Mell is also the sister in law of Illinois Governor Milorad “Rod” R. Blagojevich. Her sister Patricia is the Governor’s wife as well as the mother of his two children, Anne and Amy. As you know, Gov. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris were arrested this morning on corruption charges in Illinois.
Ms. Mell’s father, Richard (Dick) Mell was instrumental in Blagojevich’s run for a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1992, which he won.
Ms. Mell earned a culinary arts degree from California Culinary Academy after attending Cornell College. She currently serves on Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Advisory Council for Human Relations.
It will be interesting to see how the arrest of Gov. Blagojevich will affect Ms. Mell’s political aspirations. Dissension within the Mell/Blagojevich families is well documented and one cannot escape the putrid odor of the possibility of nepotism involved.
I have a few questions. Is there a politician in Illinois that is not corrupt? Why do the citizens continue to put criminals in charge of their state? What are voters going to do about it? Are you able to draw a clear line between Rezco, Blagojevich and the chosen one now?
Seriously Illinois, isn’t it time you take out the garbage, and fumigate all the offices remotely connected to a corrupt Governor, or are you going to be another California, and look the other way?
Please note Ms. Mell is not accused of any wrong doing at this time …………
December 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
so nepotism is alive and well practiced in ILL….how nice
December 9th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Just a few corrections to your post (if you are attempting to make a corruption link here, you should first have all your facts straight).
ONE, Deb Mell withdrew her her candidacy from a congressional run shortly after throwing her name in the hat - so, she is NOT currently running to replace Emanuel.
SECOND, although she is the sister-in-law to Rod Blagojevich, there is no evidence to suggest he was AT ALL connected to Deb Mell’s run to Illinois House of Representatives - which she won after receiving a majority of her district’s votes in the most recent elections; it was NOT by appointment.
THREE, yes, she is openly gay and has a partner. But, her partner Christin Baker WAS NOT a factor in Deb Mell’s protest in support of marriage equality - in fact, they had not even met yet when that arrest occured.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Thanks for corrections Liesel.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:11 am
This just all speaks to the growing list of failing American leaders in both corporate and governmental office as of late. The list is long and demanding more storage boxes by the day. I don’t even know if its the end, our tsunami of leadership, but its horrible. What was the gov thinking? why do we give our power over to such people? what is wrong with us?
December 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
“SECOND, although she is the sister-in-law to Rod Blagojevich, there is no evidence to suggest he was AT ALL connected to Deb Mell’s run to Illinois House of Representatives - which she won after receiving a majority of her district’s votes in the most recent elections; it was NOT by appointment.”
If you think she was elected without help from her very powerful father check out this article in the Chicago Reader.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/theworks/080124/
December 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
VeeBee : That is one informative and terrific article ! Thank you.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
The Reader is a great rag, I don’t always agree with them but they have some of the best writers around.
As for Deb Mell, I hope she serves honestly and judiciously.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
The American People just did the ultimate garbage removal–Bush out of the White House.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Well, let me amend that–Bush and his minions out of the White House.
December 12th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
@Eddie : And this has what to do with Deb Mell / Blagojevich ? Wait…you are gonna blame Bush for this, too…right ?????