Cindi Canary
Cindi Canary
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Cindi Canary is a well-known American politician who served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform from 1998 to 2009. Her full name was Cynthia Louise Canary.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on February 25, 1950, Cindi Canary passed away on December 15, 2021 at the age of 71.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Cindi Canary was an American politician, nonprofit executive, and public policy advocate. Her work focused on promoting government accountability, ethics, and transparency.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in Illinois, Cindi Canary developed a strong interest in politics from a young age. She earned her Bachelor's degree in English Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1972 and later pursued advanced studies in public administration at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Before entering politics, Canary worked as an educator and a community organizer.
Major Accomplishments
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During her tenure as Executive Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), Cindi Canary played a pivotal role in advocating for ethics reform and government accountability in Illinois. Her efforts led to significant legislation, including:
The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (2008)
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) amendments (2009)
Canary's work also extended beyond state borders, as she collaborated with national organizations to promote federal reforms.
Notable Works or Actions
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Cindi Canary was a vocal advocate for ethics reform and transparency in government. Her work led to the establishment of various committees and initiatives aimed at promoting accountability:
She co-founded the Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) chapter, which focused on environmental and consumer protection.
Canary served as a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Cook County Election Commission.
Impact and Legacy
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Cindi Canary's dedication to government reform has left an indelible mark on the state of Illinois. Her tireless efforts have inspired a new generation of civic leaders, policymakers, and advocates for accountability. As an influential voice in promoting transparency and ethics, her legacy continues to inspire change.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Cindi Canary's quotes and writings continue to resonate with those seeking government accountability and ethics reform. Her commitment to public service has made her a respected figure among policymakers, advocacy groups, and community leaders.
Quotes by Cindi Canary
I don't think candidates should take contributions from people if they don't have the most basic information about who they are.
If he was delivering for all his clients, I would be a lot more worried. Nobody wins all the time, and if you do win all the time you're doing something bad.
It's really a problem of appearances in most cases. In 99 percent of the cases, it's something that looks bad, but you don't frequently have legislators who are necessarily swayed by this. But it is a concern. It can undermine public confidence. What people see they tend to believe, whether or not at its core it really is as nefarious as all that.
The vast majority of judges are extraordinarily honorable people, but when you've got big dollars flying around and a lot of special interests circling like hornets over judicial elections, it creates an impression that ultimately is damaging to the judiciary.
It seems absolutely ridiculous to me that a campaign has trouble identifying who their big givers are. Ten-thousand-dollar contributions don't go unnoticed.
It's kind of like a low-grade fever. It's not like people are running around saying, 'Oh, my goodness, the former governor is on trial.' We all know that. We've been living with this scandal for seven years now.
We want to move from a culture of corruption to reform. It's time to get serious and give the public the government they deserve.
To us it's critically important that we send a message that the disclosure law cannot be evaded. Twenty five thousand dollars is still a significant fine for the state board of elections.