Jil's Background and Biography

Back row (Left to Right) - Jim, Jil, Jil's Mother Betty Odum, and Kelsey. Front row (Left to Right) - Ben, Mark, and Rob.

I have lived in Brown County since 1980. My husband, Jim Tracy, and I have 4 children: Rob, Ben, Mark, and Kelsey. We have enjoyed raising our children in this region. I’ve worked as a private attorney and was employed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General and Director of the West Central Regional Office. My family has enjoyed participating in church, community, and school activities. We are members of the Holy Family Catholic Church.

I was admitted to the practice of law in May 1980 after graduating from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1979. I was engaged in the private practice of law in the Mt. Sterling area from 1980 to 1997.

While in private practice, I served as Mt. Sterling City Attorney, Mt. Sterling Fire Protection District Attorney, and Ripley and Mounds Station Village Attorney. My private practice included a concentration in real estate, wills, domestic relations, adoptions and collections.

In 1997, I was appointed Illinois Assistant Attorney General and Director of the West Central Illinois Regional Office by Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan. I continued to serve as Assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Lisa Madigan. My duties as Assistant Attorney General and Director of a Regional Office included representation of all the State of Illinois agencies in a 19 county region and various consumer protection services in the region. I resigned my work duties in July 2004 to better assist my parents with temporary elder health matters.

I was a founding Board Member of the Brown County United Way. I served on the Mt. Sterling Park District for over 13 years. I also served on various Illinois State Bar Committees, Judicial Selection Committees, and was an appointed member of the Illinois Juvenile Corrections Board. I currently serve on the John Wood Community College Foundation Board, the Make a Wish Regional Council and the Quincy Branch Alzheimer Association Advisory Board.

I was appointed to serve the remainder of former Representative Art Tenhouse’s term in June, 2006. I was then re-elected State Representative in the 2006 and 2008  November General Elections. I currently serve as Minority Spokesperson of the House  Judiciary I-Civil Law Committee and House Labor Committee.  I serve as a member of the following standing committees:  Environmental Health; Financial Institution and; Public Utilities.   I currently serve on the Special Redistricting Legislative District Committee and  the Family Law Update Committee.  Last session, I served on the  Task Force on Pre-Need Cemetery and Funeral Trust Law. I was also one of 21 House members selected to serve on the Investigative Impeachment Committee in December, 2008.  I belong to the Joint House and Senate Manufacturing Caucus.