BIOGRAPHY

Suzanne Bassi grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from St. Joseph High School, Des Moines, Iowa in 1962.  She attended Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois (now Dominican University), studied in Fribourg, Switzerland her junior year, and graduated in 1966 with a B.A. in French.

Suzie taught high school for 10 years: 1 year in French at Resurrection in Chicago and 9 years in French and English at Proviso West in Hillside. She completed her M.A.T. at the University of Illinois in Champaign and married Roger in August, 1973. Roger and Suzie have three children: Carrie, an attorney employed at McCormack Schreiber Legal Search in Chicago and married to Brad Brasser; Steve, a High School teacher in New York City and married to Jennifer, who is also a teacher; and Greg, who is currently attending law school at Northwestern University.

In 1974, the Bassi's moved to the 54th District and Suzie has been actively involved in the community ever since.  Some of these activities have included:

	PTA involvement for 12 years / Board Member
	Whytecliffe Women's Club / President
	Palatine Celtic Soccer / Board Member Director youth referees
	Holy Family Parish / A.R.K. steering committee / 6th Grade F.A.I.T.H. coordinator / teacher
	Buehler Y.M.C.A. member
	Palatine Business & Professional Women / Board Member / Legislative chairperson
	League of Women Voters / Board Member
	Women's Leadership Council / Board Member
	United Way of Palatine-Inverness-Rolling Meadows / Board of Directors
	Vision in Progress, Healthy Communities: Palatine - Inverness

In November, 1987 Suzanne Bassi was elected to the Board of Education of School District 15 and re-elected in November of 1991.  The Voters of District 15 had passed, by a 2-1 margin, a $64 million bond referendum for the purpose of improving the Schools of District 15.  During her 8 years on the Board, the following was accomplished:

	2 new schools were built.
	17 schools were renovated.
	The projects on all 19 schools were completed ON TIME, and AT or UNDER BUDGET.
	Per-pupil expenditure was decreased.
	Administrative staff was cut by 1/3 although student enrollment increased from 9,000 to 12,000 students.
	Student test scores were raised to some of the best in the state.

Suzie's second term on the District 15 School Board expired November, 1995, but while on the Board, she also:

	Served 8 years as Board Representative to Ed-Red (Educational / Research / Development - legislative watchdog)
	Served 2 years as chairman of Ed-Red, a consortium of 115 suburban school districts.
	Achieved Master School Board credits from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) through attending conferences, training workshops and presentation of programs.
	Served as IASB legislative director for North Cook Division
	Received "Those Who Excel" Award from IASB
	Presented workshop on legislation and lobbying for IASB North Cook Division
	Attended more than 95% of Board Meetings

Suzie Bassi is a member of the following organizations:

	COWL - Conference of Women Legislators
	American Association of University Women, Arlington Heights, Illinois
	Palatine Business and Professional Women's Organization
	Palatine Area League of Women Voters
	Palatine Township Republican Organization
	Regular Republican Women's Club of Palatine Township
	Northwest Community Hospital Auxiliary
	Friends of Harper College

Through the years, Suzie has worked on several local, state and national campaigns for Republican candidates.  In 1994, she attended the University of Chicago's workshop on state funding issues and in 1996, co-chaired Kids Voting, an Illinois pilot program.  Having spent time in Springfield working with legislators and lobbyists, she is knowledgeable about the Illinois political arena.  Suzanne Bassi is dedicated to working for the 54th District and to leading our district into the 21st century.

In 1998, Suzie was elected as the Illinois State Representative from the 54th District. Suzie is the Republican spokesperson on the Committee on Aging. In addition, she also currently serves on the following committees and subcommittees: Mass Transit Compliance, Appropriations - Human Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, Transportation and Motor Vehicles, Tourism, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. She is also a member of the Illinois Legislative Alzheimer's Disease Task Force and the Speaker’s Task Force on Senior Services.

In Spring of 2000, Suzie served as a member of the U.S. Trade Mission to the Republic of South Africa, where she participated in the opening of the new Illinois Trade Office in Johannesburg. The purpose of the mission was to help Illinois businesses develop new trading relationships and business agreements in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Later that summer, Suzie earned a fellowship to the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development.

"I believe that the job of a public servant is SERVICE.  I have devoted many years to volunteer service in our community, and I pledge to continue that same ENERGY, HONESTY and WORK ETHIC in Springfield !"      

Suzie