Common Sense. Business Results. Real Solutions.

ECONOMY

To begin to address our economic issues, I will focus on making the state more economically competitive through the reduction of taxes, pension reform, regulatory reform, consolidation of government bodies and services, and creating a business-friendly environment.

High taxes are one of the primary reasons people are leaving Illinois and the primary driver of out-migration. Reducing wasteful and duplicative local government spending, implementing more conservative property tax caps, and pension reform would be a start to reducing the overall tax burden in Illinois and make it a more attractive place to live and work.

To attract business and stimulate job creation, Illinois leadership should focus on regulatory reform to reduce the burdens of state mandated, top down, unfunded liabilities that are stifling our Main Street’s growth.  Local governments should govern to reflect their community’s business environment.  By reducing unnecessary regulations and streamlining the permitting process, best done at the local level, new industry and business growth will be encouraged. 

On a macro level, encouraging policies that improve access to capital for small businesses, like tax incentives for investments in startups and local businesses or expanding small business loan programs should be a goal. Creating initiatives where the private sector partners with the local government on infrastructure, education and job creation can reduce the strain on public resources, while improving local economic conditions. Workforce development and job training should be part of the solution.  Supporting vocational and technical training programs to address the skills gap will ensure that we have a workforce prepared for high demand industries; advanced manufacturing, healthcare & technology.

Illinois’ unfunded pension obligations are among the highest in the country and present a long-term financial challenge.  Going forward, future hires should have retirement plans that reflect today’s workforce environment. We need to implement defined contribution plans vs the defined benefit plans in place today and commit to contributions that align with inflation rates and ensure affordability. An increase in the retirement age for younger workers to reflect longer life expectancies should be seriously considered for new hires as well as adjusting the Cost-of-Living Adjustments to a more realistic rate tied to inflation to reduce the burden of automatic increases that historically, and for at least the last decade, have outpaced inflation.

This approach can enhance state finances without raising business taxes, while simultaneously supporting pension funding and economic growth.  Through measured pension reform, responsible financial management and fiscal restraint through consolidation, while encouraging private sector growth, we can start resolving the underlying problems of our Illinois’ pension crisis without resorting to tax increases that continue to hinder economic growth in the state.

CRIME 

Public safety is a top priority for me.  The state of Illinois, through the legislature and the Governor’s office have created obstacles to our goals of making sure that law enforcement is able to enforce our laws.  The legislature stripped all counties in Illinois of their right to incarcerate those who have violated our immigration laws and specifically state politicians have made it difficult to cooperate with ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officers through the passage of the TRUST ACT in 2017 that declared Illinois a sanctuary state.

A key part of the public safety team is the State’s Attorney’s office and the ability of prosecutors to convict the perpetrators of crime.  The state legislature and the Governor passed the SAFE-T Act of which the consequences of this legislation will be felt for years to come.  One of those consequences is no cash bail.  This aspect of the law gives criminals the ability to move in and out back on the streets with little or no ability for the legal system to keep them incarcerated. Imagine being a witness to a crime knowing that the person you are prepared to testify against is back out on the streets.  No cash bail has had a chilling effect on the prosecution of crimes and the lack of bail money is a further hit to the revenue stream for public safety.Ultimately, public safety is dependent upon elected officials in office who share our views that public safety is the top priority. I will advocate for a return to law and order.

EDUCATION

The schools in District 57 are some of the best in Illinois! Attention to activity, budget scrutiny and expense review remains crucial.  Between 2000 and 20023, the number of administrators in Illinois public school increased 55%, outpacing the 8% increase in the number of teachers.  Over the same time period the number of students enrolled in Illinois public schools dropped 6%.  I would immediately call for an audit of administrative personnel and salaries as a first step in reducing spending.

I greatly support parental rights in their children’s education.  I will continue to fight for written consent from a minor’s parent or guardian to be required before any entity, including schools, can provide a minor any non-emergency medical procedure, medication, pharmaceutical, or any gender modification procedure, gender identification, gender-affirming counseling or gender therapy.  Additionally, I believe parents have the right to know what their children are learning in school and a right to opt their child out of lessons that conflict with their values or religion. And finally I would advocate for a return to teaching the core foundations of education – reading, writing, and arithmetic. In sum, I will be fighting for our families.

SPRINGFIELD'S CUTURE IS TROUBLING!

The prevailing culture inside Springfield is troubling and that culture is disgusting. I cite SB2412 as Exhibit A. A state representative gutted a dormant bill addressing the Department of Child and Family Services (DCGS), kept the bill’s title, added several election provisions, rammed it through the House and Senate, and had Governor Pritzker sign it in less than 48 hours. The bill attempted to make the changes to the election code effective immediately, legislating me and 15 other legislative candidates off the ballot, effectively disenfranchising more than a million Illinois voters! Just about every voter I've spoken with is aghast it happened. The Daily Herald lambasted it in a staff editorial. It was a self-serving measure buried in a shell bill, that only affected state legislative races. It cost me personally 3 months of fundraising and raising for support for my campaign as it took 3 months to work it’s way through the courts. Every incumbent who voted for it, including my non-elected incumbent opponent, needs to answer for it.  A vote for me would be a start! We cannot legislate principles or conscience, but we can elect ethical people who put principle and conscience into practice.