Meet Julie Hamos
Democratic Candidate for Congress
10th Congressional District
As a child, Julie Hamos and her family escaped from Hungary in the dead of night during the 1956 Revolution -- an experience that instilled lifelong values of courage to fight for principles and a commitment to democracy and opportunity in America.
Since 1998, Julie has been the State Representative of the 18th District which includes the southern part of the 10th Congressional District. During her tenure, she has exercised leadership to create comprehensive solutions to challenging issues.
As Chair of the House Mass Transit Committee, Julie led the major effort to fund and reform the regional transit system. An active member of the environmental caucus, she passed legislation to create a statewide energy efficient building code and introduced legislation regulating invasive species to keep the Great Lakes clean. Julie sponsored the new initiative promoting access to healthy, local food. Her law creating a Consumer Guide to Health Care becomes a state website this fall, and she pioneered electronic health records as state policy. She regularly champions expanded access to reproductive, mental health and long-term care services. She is a staunch advocate for the disabled; her first law requires all newborns to be screened for hearing loss.
Prior to elective office, Julie pursued a career advocating for families and public interest issues. Upon receipt of a law degree from George Washington University, Julie became the first staff attorney for a new subcommittee of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in Washington, D.C.; she organized the first coalition to educate families about the important new Earned Income Tax Credit.
Julie moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1976 to open an office representing low-income and working families in matters before the state legislature. She wrote the first laws to protect battered women and co-founded the state coalition against domestic violence. In 1981 she joined the staff of then-State's Attorney Richard M. Daley, serving as legislative counsel and policy advisor on crime victims, and later as director of the child support division. In 1988, Julie opened Julie E. Hamos & Associates, representing not-for-profit and public interest organizations; she was also selected as a federally appointed elections officer to monitor union elections after settlement of a corruption lawsuit.
Julie has received more than 25 "top legislator" awards from organizations and agencies. She was selected as a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives in State and Local Government in 2004 and was honored to be named one of Crain's Chicago Business "25 Women to Watch" in 2007.
Julie lives in Wilmette with her husband, Alan Greiman, a retired appellate court justice.
