Maurice A. West II is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 67th District, which includes portions of Rockford and surrounding communities such as Loves Park and Cherry Valley. Born on June 20, 1985, in Elgin, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, he has served since January 9, 2019, and is currently in his fourth term as Assistant Majority Leader in the 104th General Assembly. An ordained minister, full-time legislator, and award-winning music producer who founded Music With Pleasure, LLC, West is married to Leslie West and has a daughter, Brein McKenzie. He previously served as director of career development at Rockford University and held roles on boards including the Community Action Agency, Rockford Area Arts Council, and Rockford Association for Minority Management.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Jefferson High School ; Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Illinois College; Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
• Political Experience: Elected in 2018 after winning a competitive primary; previously ran for Rockford City Council and Rock Valley College board of trustees . Serves as Chairperson of the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission, Chair of the Ethics & Elections Committee, Vice Chair of the Mental Health and Addiction Committee, and Assistant Floor Whip in the Democratic Caucus.

Notable Achievements and Positions

West has secured over $8 million in workforce training and youth employment funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program to close the skills gap in Rockford. He advocates for mental health, restorative justice, and public health equity, including introducing HB3527 in 2025 and prior legislation on school mascots. Recipient of the 2024 Council of State Governments’ 20 under 40 Leadership Award, his office handles thousands of constituent cases and hosts town halls focused on housing, food, healthcare, and community needs. His guiding principle is “creating opportunities everywhere for everyone” in the 67th District.