She Runs Illinois 2024! — Nicolle Grasse, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 53
She Votes Illinois is pleased to feature Nicolle Grasse, incumbent, running for IL House of Representatives, District 53. Follow our series, She Runs Illinois 2024!, leading up to election day as we showcase and uplift the voices of Illinois women running for public office in the upcoming election, November 5, 2024.
Tell us about yourself:
I am a hospice chaplain, an elected Village Trustee in Arlington Heights, a lifetime advocate for others, a community builder, a collaborator, and a justice worker. I grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and I am the oldest of four children, the daughter of small business owners, and the grandchild of proud union workers, business owners, and community volunteers. The Northwoods was a great place to grow up amid the beauty of the outdoors and where it felt like everyone knew each other.
I had a traditional childhood; it felt like the whole world was available to me. And then I realized my world was not available to everyone. I was in third grade when I first witnessed deep poverty, violence, and prejudice for those who were different. I still remember the life stories of some classmates that forever changed how I understood my place in the world. These early experiences are what led me to a life of public service.
Since grade school, I’ve wanted to help make the world a better place for all of us. As an ordained minister and hospice chaplain for over 30 years, I have devoted myself to supporting people from all walks of life in finding solutions to what matters most to them. I started hospice work during the AIDS crisis and I was a front-line healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In my public service roles in hospice and local government, I support people from all life experiences, cultures, religions, and economic levels. I listen and involve them in creating solutions to problems that matter most. I love people, I love community building, I love collaborating, and working together to make our world a better place for everyone. I bring a human service skill set of hard work, commitment, and integrity to be a strong voice for the needs and concerns of all in the district. I bring a wealth of skills and experience responding to human needs and finding solutions together to best support us now and for our future.
I am ready and excited to continue serving the 53rd District, building on a lifetime foundation of public service that has taught me to be an advocate and voice for people, businesses, institutions, and agencies.
What are your top three legislative priorities you intend to focus on in office?
- Working for Affordable and Accessible Healthcare for all, including Mental Health Care,
- Strengthening our Public Schools and improving teacher retention,
- Increasing affordable housing, support for working families, and protecting our most vulnerable.
What do you wish you had known before you ran for office?
This is my second time running for office. My first election was for Arlington Heights Village Trustee. When I first became a State Representative, I was appointed following a midterm vacancy. The learning curve has been steeper than I expected, both on the political and governing sides. From complex and diverse policy issues to motivating support from multiple constituencies, the job is stretching me to new dimensions, which I love because continual learning and growth are part of what excites me.
Does the national environment impact the legislation you would advocate for in Illinois regarding reproductive freedom and healthcare?
The recent Supreme Court decision eliminating reproductive freedom as a personal right on the national level has totally changed the landscape on these critical issues. Until the decision, reproductive rights seemed to be a settled issue, and legislation only required building enhancements into the system. Now, each state battles as to whether a woman even has such rights, impacting reproductive healthcare issues like in vitro fertilization, birth control, and emergency care. Luckily, Illinois continues to be a recognized leader in reproductive rights and healthcare and I am committed to maintaining that status. At the same time, I am committed to ensuring that no other state is allowed to endanger women who travel here because of their state’s outdated and inhuman policies.
What initiatives are you prioritizing to address racial disparities in healthcare access and outcomes in Illinois, and how do you plan to ensure that healthcare policies are equitable and inclusive of all communities?
As both a hospice chaplain and elected village trustee, I have been intentional in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in my work to ensure everyone belongs and has a voice in the needs and concerns being addressed and the solutions being suggested. I have done this by engaging all stakeholders to ensure their voices are represented, analyzing data across different demographics, and identifying disparities and needs. Two questions I always ask myself are, “Who benefits? and “ Who is harmed by this?” I will take this same approach when elected to the Illinois General Assembly with my goals of embracing continuous improvement through regular review of policies and programs to ensure commitment to DEI principles in current legislation, ensuring new legislation reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of all in the community, and by strengthening legal protections for privacy and reproductive rights.
How can the Illinois General Assembly improve protections for trans women against violence and ensure that unsolved murders of trans individuals are prioritized for investigation?
There are currently little to no incentives for the criminal justice system to address the dangers that have historically faced trans individuals, whether simple abuse or murders. Murders continually go unsolved. The problem exacerbates the already low closing rate for all murders in Cook County, making it difficult to prioritize, when murders of children, of straight women, of the elderly all are impacted by the poor case closing rate. The good news is that murder rates in Cook County, the state, and the country never reached the highs of the 1990s and are on the decline. The obvious first step is to add investigative resources and incentives that can result in a higher closing rate. Along with this, there needs to be a greater incentive for community policing so that police resources are seen as more visible and more collaborative in our communities. Then, to specifically address the experiences of trans individuals, our police forces should recruit and hire more trans individuals who can work to build trust with the trans communities. I would support any initiatives that would fulfill these steps.
Closing comments
Illinois has been at the forefront of enhancing freedoms for women and for all its citizens. Whether in healthcare, reproductive rights, employment, housing, public accommodations, or education, Illinois has stood up, passed, and implemented laws that make our state a place of safety and equity. But we are not perfect.
As a hospice chaplain and Village Trustee, I have prioritized these issues, in my governing decisions, ensuring that everyone belongs, has a voice in the needs and concerns being addressed and the solutions being suggested. I will take this same approach when elected to the Illinois General Assembly, with my goals of embracing continuous improvement through regular review of policies and programs to ensure that new legislation reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of all in the community, and by strengthening legal protections for privacy and reproductive rights.
If you would like to learn more about Nicolle Grasse and her platform or volunteer for her campaign, email grasseforstaterep@gmail.com. Reach out today and help make a difference in the upcoming 2024 election.
(The information contained in this post is provided only as general information and does not imply an endorsement by She Votes Illinois.)
