Chicago City Wire

State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) collects pay and benefits to represent parts of Chicago's north and west sides in the General Assembly.

She has a state-funded district office and state taxpayer-paid staff members.

But Van Pelt herself doesn’t participate in the legislative part of her job anymore.

Among the affiliations touted on her web site: the Illinois Senate Democrats, the Illinois Department of Corrections, Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Tribune. | DrPat.net

Van Pelt refuses to do so, sources tell Chicago City Wire, and she refuses to resign so Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) can appoint a replacement.

“Last year, she told (Harmon) she was going to do nothing this year, tell people she was having a medical procedure done, then resign. She didn’t want to come to Springfield anymore,” the source said. “But she drew a four-year term, not a two-year as she expected. So she now wants to cash in on the gig and keep her state paycheck for a while longer.”

Sources say they didn’t see Van Pelt cast a single floor vote during the past legislative session. She didn’t participate in committee hearings, or vote on a single bill in any of them, either.

“She was no-show all session,” one source said. “Dr. Pat never appeared in Springfield once. I never saw her.”

Senate Democrats don’t need her vote; they currently hold a 40-19 supermajority.

Van Pelt, who lives in East Garfield Park, about eight blocks west of the United Center, actually announced her resignation on Facebook on Jan. 11, but never actually resigned.

"This is my final inauguration. I leave on January 31st," she posted. 

Her 5th State Senate District includes many of the highest-income communities in the city, including parts of the West Loop and Fulton Market District, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Wicker Park, Bucktown, River West, Little Italy, University Village, Tri-Taylor and the Illinois Medical District.

"Dr. Pat"

“Dr. Pat” is how Van Pelt describes herself to customers of her life coaching business, which is centered upon "soulmate attraction" and "regaining mastery over life and love."

While rumors swirled this spring that she was indisposed and unable to join her Senate colleagues in Springfield due to medical issues, the 65 year-old was active in her business life giving speeches.

On Jan. 21, ten days after the 103rd General Assembly commenced, Van Pelt was a guest speaker at Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles for its "Men & Women's Fellowship" event. Her presentation was titled "Accelerating The Promise of Love;" she was introduced as a "minister, public servant and personal growth strategist."

A week later, she performed "live trainings" Las Vegas, at the Treasure Island Hotel, providing "practical information by Dr. Pat and the Millenial Millionaires on how to apply new advances in neuroscience and the power of faith to Get To The Top of Life."

Van Pelt is going international.

For a planned fall conference, "the Madrid Gathering," she is charging $1,500 per person to participate in a "5-day summit featuring next-level teachings on how to activate exponential success in business, ministry, love, and purpose.

The event is scheduled to be held September 11-15 at the Monte Real Hotel in Madrid.

In 2019, Van Pelt was condemned by fellow lawmakers for selling tickets to "get rich quick" seminars on how to find marijuana stocks to buy.

She entered politics in 2011, running in the Democrat primary for U.S. Senate. 

During a candidate's forum, and former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun attacked Van Pelt as being "strung out on crack."