Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Barbara Hernandez, State Representative
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project
Interview # T20-A-L-2021-045
Barbara Hernandez, state representative representing the 83rd district for the general assembly, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: September 29, 2021 Location: Aurora, Illinois
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPLM Volunteer
Total Time: 1:26 / 1.43 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on November 2, 2021.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2021 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Barbara Hernandez, Tumultuous 2020, T20-A-L-2021-045
Biographical Information Overview of Interview: Barbara Hernandez was born in August of 1992 in Aurora, Illinois. She grew up there and went on to graduate from East Aurora High School in 2010. Following high school, Barbara went to Waubonsee Community College and then to Aurora University. She graduated from Aurora University in 2010, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Upon graduation, Barbara worked for the office of State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, eventually serving as her Chief of Staff. In 2019, after the resignation of Chapa LaVia, Barbara was appointed to the position. In 2020, she won reelection to the 83rd District which is located in the historic Aurora city center. Rep. Hernandez serves on a variety of committees, including the Energy and Environment, Higher Education, Cities and Villages, Counties and Townships, State Government Administration, and Special Investigating Committees. In 2021, she received master’s degree in Public Administration from Aurora University.
Throughout the interview, Hernandez discusses how the General Assembly operated given the pandemic restrictions put in place in March of 2020. This includes the House meeting at the Bank of Springfield Convention Center, restricting the number of legislative bills to consider, and limiting committee activities. Hernandez also discusses the impact of the pandemic upon the 83rd legislative district, the development of state budgets during the pandemic, questions raised by residents in the district, running a reelection campaign during the pandemic, and the vaccination efforts. Hernandez describes her personal experience with having COVID and possible considerations in dealing with future pandemics.
Subject Headings/Key Words: 83rd legislative district; Illinois State Representative; COVID-19 pandemic; pandemic’s effect on government; vaccine efforts
Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955