Mary Edly-Allen - President

Mary Edly-Allen, a State Senator and an advocate for progressive values, is the current President of Lake County Democratic Women. With a strong commitment to grassroots Democracy, Mary emphasizes the importance of bringing elections down to the local level. She is dedicated to encouraging women to run for office and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed. Mary sees LCDW not only as an organization but as a powerful movement dedicated to reshaping power dynamics and forging paths for Democratic women candidates in Lake County. Her unwavering dedication to the organization's mission is evident from her previous role as Executive Director, where she tirelessly worked to elect more Democratic women to local and state offices. Mary Edly-Allen continues to lead by example, igniting change and amplifying the voices of women throughout Lake County.

Gina Roberts - Vice President

Gina Roberts currently serves as a Lake County Board Member, representing District 4. She was first elected to the board in 2020. Born and raised in Lake County, the only girl in a busy family with three brothers. Her father was a proud member of Millwright Local 1693 and her mother ran the family restaurant, Vito’s Pizza in Waukegan. Through her parents, she learned early on the importance of working hard and serving the community. It has been her honor to serve Lake County and our community on the Lake County Board for the past two years.

Joy Mix - Treasurer

Joy Mix currently serves as Democratic Party Precinct Committeeperson and former Chair of the Benton Township Democrats. She has a B.S. in Economics from Bradley University. Her early career roles included work in healthcare consulting. For more than twenty years, she has enjoyed a dynamic career in internal and human resources communications for a global leader in the healthcare industry. Joy believes that women must have a greater say in the decisions that affect their health, finances and futures. She is thrilled to help LCDW to inspire, inform and empower the women of Lake County to lead in government and shape our future. Joy lives in Winthrop Harbor where she is active in helping to elect Democrats as well as promoting responsible, compassionate and effective care for feral cats through trap-neuter-return (TNR) and rescue work.

Alyssa Casey - Secretary

Alyssa Casey was born and raised in Lake County. She moved away for graduate school and work, but returned to the area a few years ago and is excited to once again call Lake County home. Her work experience spans the private sector, the federal government, and nonprofit organizations in the United States and Cambodia. Alyssa joined Lake County Democratic Women because she is passionate about ensuring that the perspectives of women of all backgrounds and income levels are considered in decisions made by our government. She looks forward to helping more Democratic women get elected and reelected in Lake County. Alyssa currently lives in Mundelein.

Lynn Florian - Member at Large, Northern Lake County

Dr. Lynn Florian, a dedicated community leader, currently serves as the 8th Ward Alderperson for Waukegan and holds her second term as a member at large on the Lake County Democratic Women (LCDW) Board. With over 35 years of experience as a practicing chiropractor, Lynn brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to public service. Beyond her political endeavors, she also serves as the Vice President of the Waukegan Parks Foundation, reflecting her passion for enhancing community well-being. Lynn's dedication to electing Democratic women throughout Lake County underscores her unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and progressive leadership in her community.

Sharon Narrod - Member at Large, Southern Lake County

Melinda Bush - Founder

Senator Melinda Bush was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2012 where she quickly staked her claim as a leader in Women’s rights and equality. She led the Pink Tax fight, making Illinois the third state to remove taxation from women’s feminine hygiene products. She chaired the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment  Awareness and Prevention. Her work resulted in the passage of some of the strictest anti-harassment protections in the United States. Senator Bush was the chief sponsor of The RHA – Reproductive Health Act – protecting women’s reproductive health rights in Illinois.  And after traveling around the State as a member of The AHEA Panel and listening to women tell their stories about why they don’t run for office she started LCDW in Lake County. Between 2016 and 2020 LCDW has trained, supported, and funded the races of more than 30 Lake County women at the state and local level - Winning Democratic control of the Lake County Board for the first time in the history of Lake County.

Senator Melinda Bush is a lifelong resident of Lake County where she lives in Grayslake with her husband, Andy. And she’s not done electing more women to office.