Galesburg Reporter

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Mount Sterling) joined her fellow GOP senators in showing gratitude to her administrative staff this week. 

In honor of Administrative Professionals Day, the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus shared a video on April 21 where Tracy said she is blessed to have the legislative assistance that she has. 

"I am blessed to have Matt Pickett in Springfield as my legislative aide," Tracy said in the video, "and Helen Mayfield in Quincy as my legislative aide. And Laurie McKee in Macomb as my legislative aide. They do great constituent work. They help me do my legislative functions and duties. 

"I can’t imagine life without them. And thank you so much for helping me do my job the best."

When not thanking her support staff Tracy is frequently vocal about her opposition to Democrats' intent to redraw the state's legislative districts with incomplete data. Tracy expressed support for the People's Independent Maps Act that would require the remapping be done by a commission of Illinois residents rather than politicians. 

"Every Illinoisan deserves to be represented in our democracy and an independent map drawn by the people for the people NOT by the politicians for the politicians is the best way to make their voices heard," Tracy said on Facebook. "For too long, the people of Illinois have been deprived of this right."

The U.S. has been celebrating Administrative Professional's Day in some shape or form since World War II. 

The first National Secretaries Day was organized in 1952. Over the years, the name changed to Professional Secretaries Day. In 2000, the International Association of Administrative Professionals announced that name would be changed to Administrative Professionals Day.