About Jackie
As a native of Kankakee County, a working mother who runs a nonprofit, and an active member of her community, Jackie Haas was elected state representative in 2020 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2022.
Jackie understands the everyday challenges, issues, and opportunities in the 79th District. She has a passion for helping people and is an effective problem solver who will roll up her sleeves to get the job done. As state representative, Jackie will take her proven track record of helping advance key issues to Springfield for the betterment of our community.
Jackie Haas has dedicated her career to serving her community as a social worker for three decades, focused on helping underserved populations, and advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves.
A lifelong advocate for ensuring her neighbors have the care and access they need to healthcare, particularly behavioral healthcare, as well as an advocate for early childhood development, education, and economic opportunity, Jackie has grown frustrated with the failures of Springfield. Politicians have forgotten about the children and families they represent and instead, have failed to help increase opportunities for Illinoisans.
As the CEO of a nonprofit for 20 years, Jackie understands what it takes to run and manage a business, from operations to budgets to strategic planning to navigating a challenging regulatory environment. Throughout the years, Jackie has developed strong relationships with many diverse sectors and community leaders. In addition to forging relationships at the state and local level, Jackie knows the direct impact Springfield can have – positive and negative – on residents of our communities and state through her work on behavioral health legislation.
Additionally, serving on the Kankakee County Board has given Jackie Haas experience with government management.
Born and raised in Momence, Illinois, to Jim and the late Marlene LaMotte. Jackie attended St. Patrick’s grade school in Momence and Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee. She received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Valparaiso University, as well as her master’s degree with a specialization in mental health from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams School of Social Work.
After graduating, Jackie began working at Riverside Medical Center, before accepting a position with the Helen Wheeler Center, where she eventually became the first female CEO of the Center. Jackie continues to serve at the Helen Wheeler Center today and is actively involved in several community-based coalitions, local board of directors, and community collaborations.
Jackie resides in Bourbonnais with her husband, Bill. They have two children, Nicole and Ben.
Issues
ETHICS REFORM
Time after time, we hear about politicians getting involved in shady backroom deals or engaging in downright unethical and illegal activity. District residents deserve a representative who will roll up her sleeves and work on bipartisan solutions to root out corruption and restore integrity in Illinois.
As a state representative, Jackie will bring her proven track record as a nonprofit leader to advance the needed ethics reforms in Springfield for the betterment of our state.
TAXES
Illinois homeowners are struggling under the weight of paying the second-highest property taxes in the United States. Now Springfield is working to increase taxes on more hardworking Illinoisans. While politicians continue to discuss what to tax next, too many families leave the state for better opportunities. Jackie has seen how politicians have forgotten about the children and families they represent and have failed to help grow opportunities.
As a result, Jackie opposes reckless tax increases and believes Illinoisans should keep more of their hard-earned money.
HEALTHCARE
Jackie has served her community as a lifelong advocate to ensure people have the care and access they need to healthcare, particularly behavioral healthcare. Through her leadership on behavioral health, Jackie knows the direct impact Springfield can have on our communities and states.
Healthcare decisions should be made by families and individuals, not the government, and Jackie is committed to protecting those individual liberties while fighting for accessible and affordable care for Illinoisans.
SPENDING
Having been a working mom throughout her career, Jackie understands how hard Illinoisans work and the sacrifices they make to take care of their families. As the CEO of a nonprofit, Jackie knows what it takes to manage a budget and live within your means. Taxpayer dollars should be protected, not spent frivolously by politicians.
Jackie is committed to protecting your tax dollars and identifying ways to eliminate the wasteful spending in Springfield.