Illinois Governor Appoints Anastasia Palivos to Commerce Commission

Anastasia Palivos

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner announced the appointment of attorney Anastasia Palivos to a five-year term as a Commissioner of the Illinois Commerce Commission on Jan. 23, 2018. She is the daughter of Leadership 100 members Peter and Vicky Palivos and participates in Leadership 100 activities.

Palivos is the first Greek-American woman appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission, and at age 28, she becomes the youngest-ever Commissioner in the history of Illinois.

She was a legal and policy advisor at the Illinois Commerce Commission and worked as an attorney for a private health services development strategy company. She graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science and from DePaul University College of Law with honors.

In supporting the nomination, the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, Brien J. Sheahan, stated that Palivos’ legal background and previous experience working at the Illinois Commerce Commission has prepared her for a new role as Commissioner.

 “I am honored by this appointment and am grateful to Governor Rauner for his commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders in government,” Palivos said. “Public service is important to me, and I am humbled by the opportunity to provide public service to the citizens of our State.”

Palivos acknowledged her family’s history of public service. Her mother is a philanthropist and her father a Greek-American national leader and attorney. “I am so grateful for the values my parents instilled in me from a young age,” she said.  She also expressed her love for the Greek community, stating, “One of my goals as a commissioner will be to continue efforts to increase the role and responsibility of Greek-Americans in government.” 

Palivos is a founding member of the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, which is involved in cancer research through the Northwestern University Medical Center. She is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and has supported International Orthodox Christian Charities, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Society.

The Illinois Commerce Commission is a quasi-judicial body that regulates public utilities, including electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and sewer. It also regulates all interstate commerce, commercial motor carriers, and railroad infrastructure in the state of Illinois.