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Dawn Clark Netsch began her political career as an assistant to Governor Otto Kerner from 1961-1965, served as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1969-1970, and in 1972 was elected as an Illinois State Senator. For the next 18 years, she was one of Illinois's most influential Senators, and championed many progressive causes. In 1990 she was elected as the Illinois state Comptroller, and in 1994 was the Democrat's candidate for governor. She lost to incumbent Jim Edgar after a spirited campaign.
Photos

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Portrait of Senator Dawn Clark Netsch.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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Senator Dawn Clark Netsch addresses the Illinois Senate sometime in the late 1980s.Where:
Illinois State Senate ChamberWhen:
1980sOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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1991’s Gridiron Dinner invite for the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association (ILCA) took a gentle jab at an unlikely couple, state Comptroller Netsch and Governor Jim Edgar, as they struggled to tame the state’s budget.Where:
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1991'sOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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Primary gubernatorial candidate Dawn Clark Netsch hoists a pool cue high when celebrating her victory over a crowded Democratic primary field.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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Springfield State Journal Register Cartoonist Mike Thompson lampooned Senator Netsch in this cartoon during the 1994 gubernatorial campaign. The main issue during the campaign was whether to raise the state income tax while lowering property taxes. Where:
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1994Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Nov 9, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Cartoonist Mike Thompson’s cartoon labeling Edgar the Teflon governor hearkens back to the famous attribution for Ronald Reagan.Where:
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1994Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Nov 3, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Dawn Clark Netsch, with her distinctive hair style and glasses, was easy for cartoonist Mike Thompson to parody.Where:
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1994Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Oct 20, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch and Governor Edgar painted two very different pictures of Illinois’s fiscal health in 1993. Mike Thompson always portrayed Governor Edgar with a price tag attached to his hair.Where:
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1993Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Apr 5, 1993. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Mike Thompson’s political cartoon from October 5th, a full month from the election. Edgar had consistently held a commanding lead in the polls over Democratic challenger Dawn Clark Netsch.Where:
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UnknownOwnership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Oct 5, 1994. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Dawn Clark Netsch preferred to abolish the state’s death penalty, an issue that Governor Edgar was able to use as a potent campaign issue.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Springfield State Journal-Register, Jan 9, 1995. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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Senator Netsch was one of a group of independent-minded Senate Democrats in the mid ‘70s known as the ‘Crazy 8’. From left to right are Senators Netsch, Wm Morris, Vivian Hickey, Don Wooten, Jerome Joyce, Vince DeMusio, Terry Bruce and Ken Buzbee.Where:
January, 1976 edition of Illinois Issues magazineWhen:
January, 1976Ownership:
May be restricted: This caricature appeared in the January, 1976 edition of Illinois Issues magazine.