Cynthia Canary

Cynthia Canary is the former Executive Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR), a non-partisan organization working to advance election and campaign finance reform, governmental ethics and accountability through public education, policy formulation, research and advocacy. She was the Director of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, an Assistant Staff Director at the American Bar Association, and Public Affairs Coordinator for the Illinois Development Finance Authority.

Canary helped draft and advance important government reform legislation in Illinois, including the groundbreaking 2003 Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and omnibus elections reform legislation. Under her leadership, ICPR also built an award-winning online database of campaign contributions and expenditures to Illinois candidate and assisted in the development of campaign conduct monitoring committee for state judicial elections. She is a frequent commentator and political analyst on national, state and local media, and guest lecturer at universities throughout the Midwest.

Canary also serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Appleseed Fund For Justice, and is a member of the National Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Judicial Campaign Conduct and the ABA Coalition for Justice. She holds a Masters Degree in Government from Georgetown University and a B.A in Political Science and History from Hampshire College.