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Dawn Clark Netsch

Dawn Clark Netsch

Dawn Clark Netsch was a trailblazer in Illinois politics. Throughout her career, she fought hard for women's rights, good government and public education. In the 1960s, she became Northwestern Law's first female faculty member and served as legal adviser to Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner. A state senator for 18 years, she was elected state comptroller in 1990, becoming the highest-ranked woman in Illinois government at the time. In 1994, she became the first woman to run for governor of Illinois as a major party candidate.