104th State Representative Candidate

Questions & Answers

What is the importance of an Illinois State Representative to your constituents in Champaign County?

Champaign County has been especially hurt during the last two years of dysfunction at the state level with no capital bill to help finance needed infrastructure improvements, little to no state aid going to our public schools, starving our human services agencies of funding, and hurting the University of Illinois and the students who needed, but couldn't get state financial assistance during the budget impasse. While an education bill has passed that will base state funding to public schools on the barriers that children face in getting an education that schools work to overcome, it isn't clear how the additional revenue promised will be raised. It is important that Champaign and Vermilion Counties elect a state representative who will be a strong advocate for the needs of this district.

Why are you qualified to be the Illinois State Representative for the 104th District?

I have spent a great deal of time working for local and state organizations, often in leadership roles to improve life for people in this state. Those roles include: President and Advocacy chair, Illinois Adult Day Services Association; Legislative Chair, Illinois Association of Community Care Program Home Care Providers; board member, Pay Now Illinois (human services coalition that sued Illinois during the budget impasse); member, Illinois Older Adult Services Advisory Committee; volunteer firefighter/EMT-B, Ogden-Royal fire protection district; girl scout leader; Sunday school teacher and church council member, St. John Lutheran Church. While the state level organization and advocacy work gave me a good deal of insight into working with the General Assembly, all of my volunteer work has helped me develop people skills that will be helpful in consensus building to get bills passed. I believe one of the biggest lessons I've learned through all of my civic organizations and professional associations is to respect others to achieve our mutual goals. Additionally, I own and operate a consulting company which helps businesses get started, develop funding, maintain regulatory compliance, and stay financially solvent. All of these skills will be helpful in working in the General Assembly. But besides being a business owner, my husband and I also own and work our own farm. I believe that I have many life and work experiences that will make me a great Illinois State Representative.

What is a key policy difference between you and your Primary Opponent[s]?

My primary opponent is a good man, dedicated to ending violence in his community. He works hard on this issue by bringing attention to it through rallies and neighborhood marches. This is his focus and it's a worthy one. But he hasn't articulated plans for any of the other issues facing Illinois.

Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter in Champaign County?

The most pressing issue for the 104th district is the decline of our economy. There are immediate things that can be done to begin lifting people out of poverty. First, we need a capital bill. Our infrastructure is crumbling and our people are out of work. Second, we need to loosen regulations on union organization. The number one employer in Illinois is a discount store that is notorious for underpaying its workforce, hiring temporary part time workers to avoid paying benefits, and has beaten back every effort workers have made at organization. In the meantime, they pay poor wages, offer little benefits, and the state of Illinois subsidizes them by providing food stamps and Medicaid benefits as these employees, though they work full time, can't take care of their families. Third, these troubled economies like the one in the 104th district require significant social programs--violence prevention, addiction treatment, senior care, Boys and Girls Club funding, school funding, etc.--in order to heal our communities. Fourth, we need to improve resources available to our public schools. They're scheduled to get an additional $250 million because of the new plan to distribute funding across Illinois based upon barriers to learning that have to be overcome. All of these plans will help our economy in both the short and long term, however, Illinois's current tax structure won't support them. So, while we are doing all of this work, we have to increase revenue to the state without further taxing the middle class. We must immediately begin taxing those who earn their money in other ways than through wages at a rate roughly equivalent to what middle class people pay in payroll taxes. We must also begin the work to change our constitution so we can have a progressive income tax.

The News-Gazette also has a questionnaire answered by both candidates running for State Representative in the 104th District

You can find their answers: here.