The Cook County Board of Commissioners memorialized former State Rep. Esther Golar (D-Chicago), for her passion and dedication to Illinois residents at their Wednesday board meeting last week.
Golar died on Sept. 21 at the age of 71 after battling cancer. She was first appointed to the House in 2005 and was known for her work with the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy program.
Golar was best known for her commitment to the Englewood neighborhood and being a public servant, rather than a politician, said Commissioner Robert Steele (D-Chicago).
“I heard from 177 legislators that if she was someone we could clone, she would be one of them,” Steele said.
In Golar’s last days, against doctor’s orders, she traveled to Springfield in order to vote on state budget cuts, said Cook Country Commissioner John Daley (D-Chicago).
“Esther was a woman who had strong convictions about the issues facing her district,” Daley said. “Many Republicans stated that although they differ from her, they respected her.”
Fellow commissioners and colleagues remembered her for her love of singing. In May, Golar sang, “We Shall Not Be Moved,” a popular civil rights hymn on the House floor in order to oppose a plan to limit collective bargaining rights backed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.