BIO
Mary Elgin, Trustee
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Mary Elgin was the first
woman to hold the position of Financial Secretary
of Local Union 1010; she was elected in the largest
local union of the United Steelworkers of America.
She had previously served as a Local Union 1010 Trustee
and elected for three consecutive terms as the Recording
Secretary of Local 1010, representing the employees
at Ispat-Inland Steel, Indiana Harbor Works.
Mary was also elected each time she ran as a delegate
to the USWA International Constitutional Convention.
Mary graduated from Roosevelt
High School – Class of 1963 and is the mother
of daughter, Lori, who resides in Los Angeles, California
and son Steven, who resides in Gary, Indiana. |
Upon graduation from Roosevelt High School, Mary attended
Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana, later transferring
to IUN, majoring in accounting and business administration.
She also attended IUN’s Labor Studies Division and
has earned many Certificates of Completion for her participation
in the USWA educational programs and classes at Indiana
University and the University of Illinois at Champaign.
In addition to her extensive experience as a union
leader, Mary has served as a professional tax consultant
for over 25 years in her community.
Mary has served as the president
of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of CLUW, president
of the Indiana Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
and is the founder and former chairperson of Local
1010 Women’s Committee. She was elected as a
delegate three times to the Democratic National Convention
and has done her share of marching in Washington,
D.C. for causes like: the Equal Rights Amendments,
Pregnancy Disability of Women, union issues and freedom
for South Africa. |
Trustee Elgin with Judge Rucker
|
Through her untiring
efforts, she has made a positive difference in the lives
of many people. Having been inspired by labor leaders such
as “Bill” Young, William “Bill”
Gailes, Curtis Strong, Ola Kennedy and Tom Mills, Mary has
dedicated her life to serving labor, acting as a spokeswoman
for women’s issues and focusing on community concerns.
Throughout her career, by her determination, she overcame
many barriers and has helped to build pathways of progress
to justice and equity. She is well known, respected and
admired for her professionalism and activism in fighting
for worker’s rights, as well as the women’s
rights. Mary's personal mission statement is; “It’s
a must that I’m present at the table when decisions
are made concerning my family, our youth and our community.”
In 2001, Mary
made the most momentous decision so far in her life. She
decided to challenge incumbent Calumet Township Trustee
Dozier T. Allen, in the 2002 Democratic primary election.
With the aid of trusted friends and supporters, she galvanized
the electorate and defeated the incumbent of 32 years. Mary
retired from Ispat-Inland Steel Company on December 31,
2002, after working there for 30 years and assumed her new
duties as Calumet Township Trustee on January 1, 2003.
As Trustee, she oversees Northwest
Indiana’s second-largest governmental entity covering
the cities of Gary and Griffith, including the unincorporated
areas in between. The Township’s primary function
is to provide assistance to those in need. This includes:
shelter, food, clothing, regular and emergency medical services,
career development and employment assistance. In her
first two months on the job, she has saved the Township
over a quarter million dollars in contract fees through
astute negotiation. She has halted the unpopular two-percent
from employees' salaries for political contributions.
She has embarked on retraining and rebuilding the morale
of the Township employees so they can better service clients
as well as the taxpayers.
The Calumet Township Trustee is an important
administrative and political office. Mary's election
brought a breath of fresh air to regional politics.
A person of integrity and principle, she is determined to
set an example of good, transparent governance which she
hopes will be emulated by other public office holders.
Although Mary
has retired from Ispat-Inland, she still retains membership
in Local 1010 and the Steelworkers Organization of Active
Retirees, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, and the Coalition
of Black Trade Unionists. She is an active member
of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus, Gary
Business and Professional Women, Northwest Indiana Black
Expo, the Gary Precinct Organization, the Gary Elected Leaders,
Smoke-Free Indiana, the Urban League and the Roosevelt Panthers
Alumni Group.
Finally, Mary
Elgin has received the highest accolade that Indiana has
to offer. She is the recipient of not only the Outstanding
Hoosier Award, but the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, both
bestowed on her by the former Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon.
Mary can be reached during business hours at (219) 886-5909. |
