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  Wood, Corinne G.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
<-  1998-01-01  
 
NameCorinne G. Wood
Address
Lake Forest, Illinois , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born May 28, 1954
DiedMay 18, 2021 (66 years)
ContributorWishful Thinking
Last Modifedev
May 19, 2021 02:37pm
Tags Married -
InfoState Representative, 1997-1999

Lt. Governor, 1999-2003

Unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor, 2002

In 1998, Corinne Wood made history by becoming Illinois' first female Lieutenant Governor. She pledged to be active in her role as the state's second highest-ranking official, and has fulfilled that promise by providing strong leadership in health care, environmental protection, senior advocacy, rural affairs and streamlining state government. Wood brings extensive experience in the public and private sectors to the Office of Lieutenant Governor, a post previously held by Governor George Ryan and former U.S. Senator Paul Simon.

Lt. Governor Wood began her career in public service over 20 years ago. Known as an effective advocate for women and children, Wood's experience includes service as a state representative, attorney, and community activist, as well as wife and mother. Among her achievements, she earned distinction as one of "100 Women Making a Difference" in Illinois by Today's Chicago Woman magazine, and was chosen to chair the Midwestern Region of the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors.

As a breast cancer survivor, Wood is dedicated to improving health care for women. Her leadership abilities led Governor George Ryan to appoint her as Chair of Women's Health Illinois, an inter agency program that focuses on enhancing women's health education and services. She also serves as Honorary Chair of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women.

Together with Governor Ryan, Wood has worked to triple funding for the state Office of Women's Health, expanding health education and outreach efforts and making a program for low-cost breast and cervical exams available to more women throughout Illinois. She also created and hosts a Midwest Emmy-nominated cable television show, Today's Healthy Woman, to provide important health information to Illinois women and their families.

In her first term, Wood launched the highly regarded "Check for a Cure" campaign to increase contributions to the state's breast cancer research fund. Her initiative was extremely effective, and in the first year doubled the revenue donated to this fund. Her efforts on behalf of the campaign in 2000 sustained and expanded its remarkable success.

In addition to health advocacy work, Wood acts as the state's advocate for rural areas as Chair of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank, an agency that assists smaller communities in obtaining financing for local infrastructure. As chair of the Illinois River Coordinating Council, Wood also directs the state's strategy in protecting the Illinois River Watershed and its tributaries. She worked to double funding for a voluntary incentive program to remove eroding lands from farm production and now is leading Illinois Rivers 2020, a bold, long-range initiative to restore Illinois waterways. She also serves as Chair of the Illinois Main Street Council, which provides assistance to communities in restoring their downtown and historic areas.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois and Loyola University School of Law, Wood was named general counsel to the Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Trusts. She later joined the Chicago law firm of Hopkins and Sutter. While Corinne and her husband, Paul, raised their three children, she served her community as an active member of charitable, political and governmental boards and commissions. Wood's community involvement spurred her election to the Illinois House of Representatives.

During her first year as a member of the Illinois legislature, she passed more bills signed into law than any other freshman state representative. Her hard work caught the attention of George Ryan, who tapped her to be his running mate. Wood made campaign visits to all 102 counties in Illinois, discussing the ambitious agenda of the Ryan/Wood team. On November 3rd, 1998, George Ryan and Corinne Wood were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

Corinne and Paul, an investment banker, have been married for 22 years. They and their three children, Ashley, 15, Brandon, 14, and Courtney, 11, reside in Lake County.


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NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
May 19, 2021 01:00pm Obituary Corinne Wood, Illinois’ first female lieutenant governor, dies at 66  Article ev 
Dec 10, 2003 12:00am News Abercrombie & Fitch Discontinues Catalog  Article *crickets chirp* 

DISCUSSION
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FAMILY

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  03/19/2002 IL Governor - R Primary Lost 26.88% (-17.81%)
  11/03/1998 IL Lt. Governor Won 51.04% (+3.57%)
  11/05/1996 IL State House 059 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
ENDORSEMENTS
IL District 06 - R Primary - Mar 17, 2020 R Evelyn Sanguinetti
IL - District 10 - R Primary - Feb 02, 2010 R Beth Coulson
IL Lt. Governor- R Primary - Mar 19, 2002 R WIlliam A. "Bill" O'Connor