Biography:

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was born in Detroit, where she still resides. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Western Michigan University in 1968. In 1970, she started teaching in Detroit public schools, spending most of her eight years at Murray Wright High School.

Kilpatrick also earned a master's degree in education administration from the University of Michigan in 1977. She left teaching in 1978 to pursue a political career, and was elected to the first of nine terms in the state House of Representatives that year.

A protege of former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, Kilpatrick grew up in the highly political atmosphere of the Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church, long a powerful force in Detroit politics.

In the state House, Kilpatrick was the first black woman to serve on the influential Appropriations Committee, where she earned a reputation for consensus-building. She also served on the board of trustees of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She owned an American Speedy Printing franchise in Lansing, Mich., for five years, and she declared bankruptcy in 1991. Those cases were closed in early 1994.

In 1996, Kilpatrick emerged from a crowded Democratic primary field in the old 15th congressional district to oust troubled U.S. Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins, an old friend and fellow church member.

In the heavily Democratic district, Kilpatrick won easily in November and succeeded Collins in Washington. Kilpatrick is divorced and has two grown children, Kwame _ the mayor of Detroit _ and Ayanna.

Past Campaigns:

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick served in the Michigan state House, 1978-96. In the 1996 Democratic primary for the 15th District U.S. House seat, Kilpatrick received 51 percent of the vote among seven candidates and denied U.S. Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins a fourth term in Congress. Collins received 31 percent. In the general election, Kilpatrick received 88 percent of the vote against Republican Stephen Hume.

Kilpatrick was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Chrysanthea Boyd-Fields with 86 percent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2000 with 90 percent of the vote over Boyd-Fields.

She was re-elected in 2002 with 92 percent of the vote. She had no Republican opponent.

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