Schools

Lemont High School Freshman Takes on Page Duties in Springfield

Lemont High School freshman Shelby Fox served as a "Page for a Day"for Illinois State Rep. Jack Franks on Tuesday.

Shelby Fox got to witness firsthand the hustle and bustle of Springfield politics this week.

On Tuesday, the freshman served as a "Page for a Day" for State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) on Tuesday after her father won the opportunity in a golf tournament.

Her role as page consisted of fetching lunches for the congressmen at the Illinois House of Representatives.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“When I got there they told me I was going to be taking orders for food,” Fox said. “I was like, ‘Well...OK.’ We were on the third floor and I had to go the basement for their food. I probably made 30 trips back and forth.”

In her downtime, Fox got to listen in on several different debates, including one proposal to require schools to have EpiPens, which teachers and nurses can access, and another requiring a box on car accident reports as to whether a cell phone was involved in the incident.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I really liked hearing the debates and when (the congressmen) fought back and forth about a bill,” Fox said.

What was most surprising to Fox and her mother, Marge, who trekked to Springfield with her daughter for the day, was the flurry of activity that went on in the gallery during the debates.

“People were talking on the phone or to each other,” Shelby Fox said. “I thought that was kind of weird, but also cool. It wasn’t as uptight as I thought it was going to be.”

“You’d think they would get annoyed at each other but evidently that’s how they go about their day,” Marge Fox said. “They’re all still able to concentrate and focus on what they’re there for and the bill they’re representing. It seems to go smoothly considering.”

At times, both mother and daughter witnessed some debates between Republicans and Democrats grow heated.

But Marge Fox said as soon as the debates ended, so did the temper flare-ups.

“When they move on to the next issue, you see them go toward each other and shake hands, or the women give the men a hug,” she said. “It all comes out in the wash. When it’s all over, everybody’s smiling.”

During debates, if congressmen had supporters of the proposed bills present in the gallery, they would often be acknowledged.

“There were some schools there, and churches and board members from different communities,” Marge Fox said. “The representatives down below will introduce them and give everybody a hand. They like to recognize them.”

During her Page for a Day excursion, Shelby Fox also got to mingle with some of the Congressmen, including Franks.

She enjoyed the day, but says she has no plans to pursue a career in the government arena.

“I definitely don’t think I’d go into politics,” she said. “But being an intern (for a Congressman) interests me.”

There was only one downside to the trip for Fox.

“I really wanted to go in the governor’s office,” she said. “The pages that actually work there get to go in. I kind of wanted to in and say hi to the governor.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here