EDUCATOR, ORGANIZER,
COMMUNITY LEADER.
“I am Tara Stamps. I am a proud Cook County Commissioner, teacher, and union member. My work as an educator and community leader is rooted in a commitment to advocacy, access, and empowerment for working-class families.”
“I stand on the shoulders of giants, both in the progressive movement of Chicagoland and in my own family.
Black & White Photo of Marion Stamps.
“My mother, Marion Stamps, is a revered civil rights icon and was a formative leader in the fight for affordable and just housing in our city. My siblings and I learned early on how to organize and collaborate in order to see transformational change.”
The Issues
The 1st district is a diverse and vibrant collection of communities - and there is no "single story" of the first district. Tara will continue to leverage her voice to support initiatives that will lift everyone up, and continue to roll up her sleeves for the issues where Cook County can lead the way.
-
Affordable Housing
Too many poor and working people cannot afford to live in Cook County, even in some of the most under-resourced communities. That’s why Tara is fighting for Bring Chicago Home, a community-led initiative to end homelessness by asking real estate corporations to pay their fair share. Tara is committed to fighting for elders in the first district - to ensure they are able to stay in their homes with dignity and safety.
-
Public Safety
Tara knows we need to both deal with the root causes of crime and violence and develop solutions to make our streets safer today, including investing in good jobs and wrap-around services for at-risk youth.
From her days as an educator, Tara has seen first-hand what happens when our young people are left behind. She is committed to ensuring that the youth in Cook County are invested in, not criminalized as children.
-
Comprehensive Health Access
As a teacher and working mom, Tara has seen firsthand the heartbreaking consequences of our for-profit healthcare system. She has marched on the picket lines with hospital workers and is proud to have the support of Chicago’s nurses. Tara is fighting for healthcare as a right, not a privilege - and fully supports access to comprehensive mental health services across the County.