Penny Pullen

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Penny Pullen (born March 2, 1947) was an American politician and activist.

Background[]

Born in Buffalo, New York, Pullen received her bachelor's degree in communications from University of Illinois at Chicago. Pullen worked as a television production technician, reporter, editorial assistant, and proof reader. Pullen lived in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1976 Pullen was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as a Republican where she served for 16 years, rising to the position of assistant minority leader.[1] On July 23, 1987, Pullen was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic.[2][3] Pullen would later be noted for her role in stigmatizing HIV through an Illinois law she sponsored and then pushed to become the model for other states' criminalization bills.[4]

In 1990, Pullen was running for re-election in the Republican primary against Rosemary Mulligan. After the first count, Mulligan was named the winner by 11 votes. The courts then ordered a recount that left the vote tied, and so a coin toss was used to break the tie. Mulligan won the coin toss. Pullen then appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, which did their own recount that left Pullen the winner. In 1992, Mulligan defeated Pullen in the Republican primary. The result was so close that a recount took place.[5] Pullen has served as the President of the Illinois state chapter of the Eagle Forum.[6]

Pullen was a supporter of the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaigns of Rick Santorum.[6][7]

Notes[]

  1. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1991–1992,' Biographical Sketch of Penny Pullen, pg. 95
  2. ^ 'Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States Ronald Reagan, 1987,' Biographical Sketch of Penny Pullen, pg. 862-863
  3. ^ Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (September 15, 1987). "Pullen appointed to presidential commission studying AIDS". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. p. 66. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Rhodes, Adam M. "When crime goes viral". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Rosemary Mulligan, former Illinois lawmaker, dies at 73". abc7chicago.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  6. ^ a b Zahm, Jon (December 27, 2011). "SANTORUM CAMPAIGN HUNTS IL DELEGATES AND PETITION SIGNATURES". Illinois Review. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Robb, Tom (January 28, 2016). "Local Candidates For Presidential Delegate". Journal and Topics. Retrieved October 4, 2019.

External links[]


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