Gwen Klingler
Gwen Klingler is a former Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 100th district from 1995 until 2003.
Klingler, then a member of the Springfield City Council, was initially slated to face Democratic incumbent Michael D. Curran. However, Curran abruptly withdrew from the race in August. Marylou Lowder Kent, a Lincoln Land Community College trustee, replaced Curran on the ballot. In a year that saw a record number of Republicans elected to office, Klingler defeated Kent.
After re-districting occurred, Klingler's district included increased rural communities, outside of Springfield, while the other state representative in her legislative district, Raymond Poe, was given more of the city. Klingler was upset in the Republican primary by the more-conservative Rich Brauer.
Before becoming a prominent member of the Illinois House, Klingler served as an alderman on the Springfield City Council. After leaving the House, Klingler ran for Springfield City Treasurer in 2003, but was defeated. In 2008, she was a candidate for Delegate to the Republican National Convention, committed to presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, in Illinois' 19th congressional district.
Born in Toledo, Ohio. Klinger graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University. She then received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She practiced law in Springfield, Illinois.
