Suzanne Deuchler

Suzanne L. Deuchler (born July 21, 1929) is a former Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 42nd district. She retired in 1999, after nine terms.

Suzanne Deuchler was born on July 21, 1929, in Chicago and raised in Shelbyville, Illinois.She studied at the Dayton Art Institute with muralist Ruth VanSickle Ford. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Speech from the University of Illinois.

Community involvement

Deuchler is the co-founder of the Illinois Math and Science Academy. She served as a member of the Fox Valley Health Services Board, Aurora Regional Advisory Committee to the Department of Children and Family Services, Aurora University Citizen's Advisory Board, Joseph Corporation of the Illinois Advisory Board, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, Department of Public Aid's Welfare Services Committee, and Copley Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.

Deuchler's community involvement in various organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women led to a career in local politics. In 1976, she was elected to the Kane County Board. Four years later, she threw her hat in the ring to represent the 42nd District of Illinois, as a Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly. In the 1980 primary, she received the highest number of votes of five candidates for two nominations in the 42nd District. Dennis Hastert finished fourth, but later gained the nomination when another candidate fell ill. Both won the general election and took office in 1981.

While serving in the Illinois State House of Representatives, Deuchler was named to several committees. She served as the chair and minority spokesperson of the Financial Institutions Committee and the Vice-Chair for Personnel and Pensions Committee. She was also a member of Human Services, and General Services and Government Oversight Appropriations. She served as the minority spokesperson for the State Government Administration Committee and the Vice-Spokesperson for Environment and Energy, and Reapportionment Committees. She also served as past co-chairperson of the Conference of Women Legislators, the Citizens Council on Energy Resources, the Immigration Reform Task Force, and the White House Conference on Children.