PEORIA MAGAZINE December 2022

A life inpublicservicewasn’twhat Linda Daley had envisioned for herself. “I was a math and science person,” said Daley, whose career began as a high school science and biology teacher after graduating from the University of Illinois. As she looks back today on a career of more than 35 years in public service — on the Peoria Public Schools Board, the Peoria County Board, the Peoria Public Library Board and in her professional capacity as chief of staff for Illinois Rep. Ryan Spain and as legislative aide for former Illinois Rep. David Leitch — Daley wouldn’t change a thing. Daley’s community involvement, of course, extends well beyond her elected positions and includes her long-time involvement in the Junior League of Peoria, the Springdale Cemetery Authority Board, Peoria Riverfront Museum Board, Il l inois Central College Foundation Board, YMCA Board of Directors, Peoria County Republican Central Committee, Peoria Charter School Board Officer, Dean’s Community Council for the University of Illinois School of Medicine … and that does not exhaust the list. “If you view the totality of her career, it really is an unparalleled dedication to public service,” Spain said. “She has excelled in literally every type of public service throughout her career.” ‘SHE HAS EXCELLED IN LITERALLY EVERY TYPE OF PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGHOUT HER CAREER’ — Illinois Rep. Ryan Spain As a result, Daley has been honored with the Peoria Historical Society Henri DeTonti Award, with her induction to the Peoria Lincoln Carnegie Library Hall of Fame, with the 25 Women in Leadership Award from WEEK TV and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, and with the Jaycees’ Charles C. Schlink Memorial Good Government Award. Meanwhile, the

Children’s Reading Room at the Peoria North Branch Library bears her name. A Peor ia Magazine Woman of Influence? You bet. “It’s really about the enjoyment of helping people with their problems and helping the community as a whole,” said Daley. THE EARLY YEARS Daley grew up on a dairy farm in Boone County in northern Illinois about five miles from the Wisconsin state line. The 600-acre farm had been in her family since the 1840s, when her ancestors walked fromChicago to buy the land at 2 cents an acre. A job at the nearby Green Giant plant in the lab testing vegetables sparked her interest in biology, which in turn led her to major in the subject at the U of I. After graduating, she married and began teaching high school – five years total betweenHomewood-Flossmoor in Chicago’s south suburbs, Champaign Urbana and then Oklahoma City. The Daleys ultimately moved to Peoria, where her husband had landed a job practicing law. Linda quit teaching to raise her three children – two sons, Aaron and Adam, and daughter, Alison. In 1977, she joined the Junior League of Peoria. “I was president of the Junior League and she was relatively new and young in theLeague,” saidSallySnyder. “I askedher tobe inchargeof ourmonthlypublication. She was absolutely wonderful.” Daley went on to work on Snyder’s campaign for Peoria Public Schools Board, then decided to run herself when another election rolled around. Both women were elected to citywide seats. “She is phenomenal – so thorough. Don’t give her a project you don’t want her to delve into because she’ll understand it all,” Snyder said. “If someone presents a situation or concern to her, she’ll work diligently to resolve it. “I’d trust her with my money in 10 seconds because she researches

everything and understands every line itemand every expenditure in a budget.” MAKING A CAREER OF CONSTITUENT SERVICE For 33 years starting with legislators David Leitch (1989-2017) and now with Ryan Spain, Daley focused on the needs of the constituents of the 73rd District covering west-central Illinois, which includes Peoria, Bureau, Marshall, Stark and Woodford counties. Whether it ’s an issue regarding roadway conditions, Medicaid benefits, taxes, unemployment, professional licensure, driving licenses, FOID cards, or accessing health care, Daley tackles each full-throttle, starting with doing her homework on state statutes and regulations.

“My job is to collect all the information and then break it down. You sometimes have to unwind every decision the personmade to understand how they’re at the point they are when they turn to us for help,” she said. “It’s like a complicated science problem. “I would have never known, honestly, that this was going to be so fulfilling for me,” Daley said. “There’s never a day that I can’t wait to get to work. I think that’s a gift when you find the right niche.” Daley’s former boss, Leitch, describes her as a force of nature. “She is the hardest working person I’ve ever known,” he said. “She’s obsessed with detail and is unsatisfied with any Linda Daley is joined by her daughter, Alison Daley, former Illinois Rep. David Leitch and current Rep. Ryan Spain, for whom Daley serves as chief of staff

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