Kristin Williamson is the Republican candidate for the 103rd Legislative District in the Illinois House of Representatives, a seat currently occupied by Democrat Naomi Jakobbson, who will retire at the end of her term. The 33-year-old is the Director of Public Relations at Benefit Planning Consultants and formerly at Wolfram|Alpha. She is a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, and serves the community as a member of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, a member of the Willard Airport Governance Task Force and a member of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee. Kristin has called Urbana home for the last 12 years. Her son Evan, age 9, attends Yankee Ridge School, loves Cub Scouts, math, backyard chickens and is learning to code.
See why we think Kristin Williamson is a Chambana mom to know.
Q: Why do you want to be a legislator?
The opportunities that I found in Champaign-Urbana changed my life. My story of being a single mom who left high school at 17 and made it to where I am today is an example of how people in our community can overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges when they have access to information, opportunities and a community which champions success.
But, the state of affairs and political culture in Illinois has deteriorated a great deal since I found those opportunities here and we are now seeing the negative impact of our state government here at home. Our community deserves a representative in Springfield who understands the challenges they face. I know what it’s like to be a mom who worries about making ends meet and if my son is getting the best education, and balancing a career.
Like many of us, I’m upset by politicians who grandstand and refuse to work together. I want to collaborate, I want to bring new ideas, and I want to work with people who I agree and disagree with to help make our community and state a stronger place.
Q: You ran unopposed in the primary, but didn’t rest on your laurels and still campaigned. What did you learn from that experience that will take you into the general election?
I have been campaigning since September 2013 despite not having a primary opponent because I knew just how important this office is to our community and just how challenging this race would be. There were quite a few people, either reporters or political observers who thought this district was drawn specifically to elect a member of one party. A few people who believed this even told me I was wasting their time.
But as I knocked on thousands of doors, met with community groups, teachers, labor, business leaders and many other members of our community, it became even clearer to me that residents of Champaign-Urbana don’t decide based on party, but on who shares their beliefs, their ideals and who can bring innovative service and effective representation to Champaign-Urbana and new ideas and collaboration to Springfield.
Thanks to all of the early work our team did, this race is now viewed as one of the most competitive in the state. I’m “all-in” and our community deserves to have choices!
Q: You are a single mom. How has that influenced your political career?
Being a single mom has influenced my political career on many levels. I’ve been involved in politics since Evan was in diapers. The decision to run for office was a serious one we made as a family. We talked about the risks, in terms that a 9-year-old can understand, and we talked about the good things it would allow us to do for others. Still, I knew there would be some of risk and an increase in “mom guilt”. Fortunately, we have a very strong support network.
We need more voices and viewpoints in our government. We need more single parents. We need more young people. We need more women. We need more engineers. We need more people who can move our communities forward.
Q: Why should voters give you their vote?
I want to earn voters support because they believe that I would be the most effective at representing our world-class community and its world-class resources. My professional and personal life experiences put me in a unique position to examine an issue or piece of legislation and understand how it will impact a very diverse group of people and interests.
I also hope to earn the community’s support by demonstrating that I’m a representative who will solve problems through collaboration and plans of action rather than scorched rhetoric and inaction.
Q: Besides your family – what are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the challenges I overcame to get an education. I left high school at 17 because I needed to work. But my dream of an obtaining an education never died. When I was growing up in my hometown of Effingham, Champaign-Urbana always seemed to be a place overflowing with education and opportunity. I knew that if I could just get here I would have a shot at a better life.
When I was 20, I found a job that gave me an opportunity to move here and start classes at Parkland College. What I found was a community of faculty and staff that was just as committed to my success as I was. I certainly faced challenges in terms of catching up on formal education and just a few semesters in I found out that I was going to be a Mom—which only made me more determined to succeed.
After Evan and I established a home, work and school routine, I got involved in student government and campus life. All that helped me realize one of the proudest days of my life: the day I received my acceptance letter to the University of Illinois.
Education is an issue that’s incredibly important to me. It is an issue that is on the minds of every mom, dad, student, professor, and teacher in the community, and it’s the economic engine of Champaign-Urbana. I tell my education story a lot when I’m campaigning. Not because of what I did, but because I believe it’s an incredible testament to the power that Parkland College and the University of Illinois have in shaping the lives of individuals and our community. I’ll be the strongest education advocate at the Capitol.
Q: What is your family’s favorite thing to do together in C-U (out of the house)?
Evan loves Meadowbrook Park and the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum. We can’t wait for the Urbana Farmer’s Market to open. Soon we’ll be back to spending our time walking neighborhoods together talking to voters.
Do you know of a Champaign-area mom or dad you think everyone should know about? Nominate him or her today. Contact us!