 Mrs. Stern also became known for her support of women's issues, equal rights, gun control, voter registration, the disadvantaged and the mentally ill.In 1992 Stern narrowly defeated Republican Roger Keats based on winning 77% of the Lake County votes in the two-county, 29th senatorial district and served in the Illinois State Senate from 1993 until 1995.Knowing that she was a prime target of North Shore Republicans hoping to regain the seat and control of the Illinois Senate, Stern sometimes even taped a target to her back.