Kathleen ("Kathy") Parker (born September 21, 1943) is a former Republican member of the Illinois Senate, who represented the 29th District from 1995 to 2003.
Parker, a co-owner of a manufacturers' representative firm, began her political career in 1975, winning election to the District 31 school board.
[3] In 1994 Parker became the Republican candidate for the 29th state senatorial district,[4] which now includes all or parts of Bannockburn, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Fort Sheridan, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Knollwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights and Riverwoods.
[5] Re-elected several times, she sponsored legislation concerning accessible day care and also rose to chair the Senate Transportation Committee as well as a Task Force on Mental Health issues.
Parker received her bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of Miami, Florida.