Erica Harriss, Republican candidate for Illinois state Senate District 56 | Facebook/Erica Conway Harriss for State Senate
Erica Harriss, Republican candidate for Illinois state Senate District 56 | Facebook/Erica Conway Harriss for State Senate
With midterm elections less than a month away, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) endorsed Erica Harriss, State Senate candidate in the 56th District.
Harriss founded her small business, Saving Grace Beauty, that creates, manufactures and distributes a hair product that Harriss invented along with additional add-on beauty products in 2014.
“As a small business owner, I understand and have dealt personally with many of the government hurdles that hold entrepreneurs in Illinois back,” Harriss said. “I am running to be a voice for our small business owners and the Illinois workforce because I know if we prioritize improving our business climate, we can also improve the futures of all Illinoisans.”
Before founding her company, Harris worked professionally in human resources and marketing for Ozzie Smith, and staffed newsrooms at KSDK-TV in St. Louis and WLBT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi. Harriss also served as the director of communications for the National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) from 1999-2004. Since 2016, Harriss has represented the 26th District that encompasses Glen Carbon and outlying areas on the Madison County Board.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs Clark Kaericher said Harriss “is a small business owner and active local leader who acutely understands the needs of Illinois taxpayers and businesses.” Kaericher continued, “I grew up in Edwardsville and I’ve followed Erica’s tenure on the Madison County Board closely. She’s exactly the kind of leader the Illinois employer community can count on to work for pro-business policies in the Illinois Senate.”
“Our members support candidates who support small business,” said NFIB State Director Chris Davis. “Erica has shown that she understands the challenges facing Illinois’ job creators. Our members believe Erica will work to create, protect, and maintain an environment where small businesses can thrive and create jobs."
Harriss told Metro East Sun that her “one-word answer to describe my platform is reform.”
“The Democrats who control the Senate have failed to regulate spending, have ruined the state’s credit rating, have passed job-killing and anti-police legislation, and all of that needs to change,” she said.
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