Englewood Community Activist Sonya Harper has been tapped to fill the vacant seat of former state Rep. Esther Golar, who passed away late last month.

Harper was voted into the seat by 6th district committeemen Tuesday night. The new state legislator took the "Esther Golar Pledge" to support legislation, SB 570, that would reverse the changes in Gov. Bruce Rauner's emergency rule restricting the eligibility requirements for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), a move that is estimated to have adversely affected some 15,000 Illinois families. While extremely ill, Golar's last legislative act was to go to the state capitol to vote in support of the bill.

"In an act of total bravery and at great risk to herself, Representative Golar came to Springfield to defy Bruce Rauner and stand up for the people of the 6th District. Her very last vote was to reverse his cruel cuts to child care, which do not solve our budget crisis but DO harm our economy and hurt working families," said Harper.

"I have pledged to honor Representative Golar's legacy and, on November 10th, I hope to join my new colleagues in voting to roll back the Rauner rules which are causing needless devastation to vulnerable residents of the 6th District and across all Illinois," she added.

The bill is scheduled to go before the full House on November 10.