By Sheila Elliott
The Illinois General Assembly’s 5th House District, an area encompassing residential neighborhoods, university campuses, and even river and lakefront acreage, has a new representative to serve the area in Springfield.
Local Democratic committeepersons tabbed South Loop resident Kimberly Neely du Buclet to fill the seat of former 5th District State Representative Lamont Robinson after 4th Ward voters elected him to the Chicago City Council on April 4. The committeepersons named Du Buclet to the State post May 13.
A veteran of the South Side political world, du Buclet has a resume that cites City, State, and university positions, including service as a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago commissioner and vice president. Earlier, committeepersons appointed her to a 26th District unexpired term, so she served previously in the 97th Illinois General Assembly from 2011 to 2013. She declined to run again for the 26th District post.
Based on her MWRD work, du Buclet said, “Drinking water, ground water, the air—all the environmental concerns” rank high on her hierarchy of issues facing Illinois and 5th District residents.
She noted the district’s south edge in particular has faced floodwater problems, which du Buclet said she will look into. “I have a strong relationship with the environmental community,” she said, describing a communication network with environmental groups on topics important to her.
Education, criminal justice
Along with environmental concerns, criminal justice and early childhood education are key for all Illinois residents, said du Buclet. Ensuring the criminal justice system protects everyone and all Illinoisans receive fair, just treatment across the board will remain primary concerns, she added. In her first go-around in the Illinois General Assembly, she helped lead the fight for sentencing reform so first-time offenders may receive probation instead of jail for some offences.
An experienced lawmaker, Du Buclet won a special election to the MWRD board in 2018, then voters re-elected her to that post two years later. In 2011, committeepersons appointed her to serve out the 26th District term of resigning Rep. William Burns after voters elected him alderman for the 4th Ward.
Unlike concerning that earlier appointment, du Buclet’s current communications director, Dean Alonis, feels confident “She’s going to run for re-election.” As du Buclet said, “At the end of the day, if I’m not fulfilling the needs of constituents, they can vote me out of office.”
Du Buclet also was director of legislative and community affairs at the Chicago Park District from 2013 to 2019.