May won’t seek re-election in ‘12

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Karen May

Updated: November 28, 2011 12:16AM

State Rep. Karen May, D-Highland Park, announced Wednesday that she won’t seek re-election next fall to the position she has held for more than a decade.

She becomes the second long-serving Democratic lawmaker in the county — following state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest — in announcing their retirement from the Legislature.

“I want to sprint across the finish line with every ounce of enthusiasm for the issues up until my last day of office,” May said. “This will give me the luxury of completing a very aggressive legislative agenda without being distracted by a political campaign.”

While it is too early for May to know if she will endorse anyone to take her position, she does know of a possible candidate or two who would like the job.

“Someone who has worked with me in my office, Alyssa Knobel of Highland Park, is an amazing and dynamic woman,” May said. “I believe Alyssa and Mitch Lifson, also of Highland Park, are interested.

May first took office as state representative after winning the 58th House District seat in 2000. Before that, she served as a member of the Highland Park City Council and Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission.

Area voters have re-elected her overwhelmingly since then, but after six terms in the Legislature from a district which includes Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Highwood.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to serve my community in a number of ways over the years, and having the honor of representing people as their advocate in our state’s capitol certainly tops the list,” May said. “This job allows you to have such an incredible impact on people’s lives.

Since taking office, May has maintained a full-time constituent service and that helping to improve access to often-complicated government programs has been a priority for her.

“Helping people navigate state bureaucracy and deliver critical services is the most important part of being in public office,” May said. “I’ve strived to be open and accessible.

May also has worked on a number of legislative issues, including environmental protection, ethics reform, property-tax relief, gun-control laws, access to more affordable health care and state budget reforms.

She has consistently opposed pay hikes for legislators and helped pass state budgets that rejected pay raises for lawmakers.