Q. What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? Will you vote for your current legislative leader? What is your position on term limits in general and specifically for legislative leaders? Do you support the ongoing drive for a constitutional amendment on redistricting? What will you do to promote implementation of any changes you recommend?

A. Legislators on both sides of the aisle need to start listening to their constituents and identify areas where they can find common ground.

Like the voters I speak with on a daily basis, I am frustrated that Springfield politicians have not been able to set aside their differences to pass a budget that would provide stability and critical funding for schools, public safety and programs for our most vulnerable residents.

We must start putting the well-being of people before politics.

If elected, I will go to Springfield to work on the issues the residents of my district talk to me about every day. They are troubled by rising property taxes and the fiscal challenges facing our state.

They want representation in Springfield that will represent their values such as common-sense ideas on improving education funding, freezing skyrocketing property taxes and passing a responsible budget without cutting vital services.

The question about who may be the next legislative leader in the House is rarely brought up by those whose door I’m at.

I support term limits for all legislators and constitutional officers. However, I would like to see specific details of any term-limit proposal before putting my full support behind it.

If elected, I pledge to serve no more than eight years in the Illinois House.

Regarding redistricting reform, I believe the language in House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 58 is an excellent framework to use as the basis for redistricting reform.

Q. Would you vote for an increase in state income taxes or sales taxes? Would you vote for new taxes, such as on

services? What is your position on a graduated income tax?

A. I am opposed to increasing taxes on hardworking, middle-class families. We must protect the critical programs that working and middle-class families rely on.

I believe we can achieve this by making common sense cuts, placing a higher tax rate on millionaires and closing corporate tax loopholes.

Q. What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois?

A. It’s a fundamental right for all children in Illinois to receive a quality education, and changing the way Illinois funds public schools is necessary to make this happen. I am committed to working with all stakeholders at the table to make education funding more equitable. However, I cannot support any plan that would take much-needed dollars away from schools in my district.

Q. On Illinois’ budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?

A. There are many cuts that can be made and would receive bipartisan support including: eliminating pay for state boards and commissions, consolidating services provided by state agencies, eliminating the lieutenant governor’s office, keeping legislative pay frozen, eliminating pensions for future legislators, and closing corporate tax loopholes. To lead by example, if elected, I will refuse a taxpayer-funded legislative pension.

Q. What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?

A. The pension crisis facing Illinois is very complex and has been exacerbated by years of underfunding by both parties and the Great Recession. Clearly, action needs to be taken to ensure the state’s pension systems remain solvent.

Any changes must be fair to taxpayers and public workers and must be negotiated with all stakeholders at the table. To do otherwise, would inevitably lead to more litigation and a delay that we cannot afford.

Q. What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?

A. Job Creation — As a small-business owner, one of my top priorities is to improve Illinois’ business climate and encourage companies to expand or relocate here. The best way to address our fiscal challenges is by creating new, good-paying jobs in Illinois.

Freezing Property Taxes — Many homeowners are struggling to keep up with rapidly increasing property taxes. To provide immediate relief, I will vote for legislation to freeze property taxes.

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