13 Facts About Deb Mell

Deborah L "Deb" Mell was born on July 30,1968 and is an American politician from Chicago.

Deb Mell is a Democrat and was formerly a member of the Chicago City Council, representing the 33rd ward.

Deb Mell previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013.

Deb Mell then attended Cornell College with a dual major in political science and history, before earning a culinary arts degree from California Culinary Academy.

Deb Mell returned to Chicago in 2000 and began working at Christy Webber Landscape, Chicago's largest landscaping company owned by prominent lesbian Christy Webber.

Deb Mell was arrested in 2004 while protesting her inability to get a same-sex marriage license from the Cook County clerk's office.

Richard Mell after Deb Mell announced her intention to run for the seat, choosing instead to challenge Sen.

On January 14,2009, in one of her first votes in the Illinois House of Representatives, Deb Mell cast the lone vote opposed to impeaching her brother-in-law, then-Governor Rod Blagojevich.

In November 2008, Deb Mell expressed interest in running in the special election to replace Rahm Emanuel, who would be resigning from the US House of Representatives to serve as President Obama's White House Chief of Staff.

In July 2013, Alderman Richard Mell, Deb Mell's father, retired from the city council after nearly 40 years.

Deb Mell was married to Christin Baker from 2011 to 2014.

Deb Mell was one of four openly LGBT members of the Illinois General Assembly, along with Reps.

Deb Mell has received a National Organization for Women award for her activism, as well as the Howard Brown Cornerstone Award for community excellence.