Will County Gazette

Sounding the rallying cry of an outsider, Alyssia Benford of Bolingbrook, the Republican candidate for state representative in the 98th District, proclaims on her campaign website that “Illinois’ political class has failed our communities.” 

Benford, who was unopposed in the GOP primary, will be challenging Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) in November.

Benford has seen in her own experience the value of education and the sacrifices a family sometimes is called upon to make. Her mother worked hard to send her to an out-of-district school, where she was in the marching band and enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Breast cancer claimed her mother’s life at an early age, but not before Benford completed a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University.

Alyssia Benford

Benford survived her own bout with breast cancer, drawing on the example her mother set years earlier. She offers that strength as an adviser to others sharing the same diagnosis.

Today, Benford is a practicing accountant, having worked first for Deloitte and later for Motorola, where she oversaw payroll for approximately 30,000 employees, her bio says. 

A Rotary Club member, Benford has a string of civic accomplishments on her resume, which includes president of the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Police Pension Board, and being a member of Jack and Jill of America and Victory Cathedral Worship Center.

“As your state representative, Alyssia will hold Springfield accountable and restore your voice in government,” a statement on her website says.