Congress - 13th District Candidate

Questions & Answers

What is the importance of the US Congress to your constituents in Champaign County?

Congress plays an extremely important role in the lives of the constituents of Champaign County. Decisions made by Congress impact constituents' safety and their ability to receive justice on many levels. Many aspects of our lives are impacted by Congress: economic well-being, and the ability to receive affordable health care and affordable education are just a few of the many items that Congress has a direct impact upon in our lives.

Why are you qualified to be in the US Congress?

The Constitution states that we are qualified if we are at least 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and a resident of the state in which we are running; I meet all of those criteria. More importantly, I have had an interest in public policy and have been an activist on several fronts for the past 2-3 decades. I am a 25-year member of Physicians for a National Health Program (a leading single-payer healthcare advocacy group), a 20-year member of Physicians for Reproductive Choice, and a longtime member of the ACLU, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I have served as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and I have done volunteer work for Peace Meals, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the YMCA of DeWitt County. My concern for the well-being of others extends at an even more personal level to the fact that I've donated 89 units of my blood to the American Red Cross, and that my family is proud to have two beautiful dogs rescued from animal shelters.

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

There appears to be no candidate in the primary other than myself who passionately advocates for all of the following: a single-payer healthcare system NOW, a $15/hour minimum wage, and tuition-free access to public universities, colleges, and trade schools. These policy positions have played a central role in my endorsement by Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, two large national organizations that grew out of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.

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

The policy positions described in #3 (above) represent more than simply "good" policy- they are also crucial to success here in IL-13. The message I delivered when I last ran against Rodney Davis back in 2012 won by 7 percentage points; it was just our misfortune that that year we had an independent on the ballot who argued for the same platform as myself (single-payer healthcare, campaign finance reform, aggressive action against climate change, gay marriage, and a woman's right to choose regarding her reproductive health). The independent took slightly more than 7 percent of the vote, so that I fell short of Mr. Davis by just 0.3%. I've watched as subsequent less passionate and more conservative Democrats have lost to Mr. Davis by 18 to 20 points (50 to 60 times my margin of defeat). I can watch no longer. It will be a two-person race this year in the general election, and I look forward to defeating Mr. Davis handily in November, if I can win the primary in March. The other primary candidates can only hope that they can swing IL-13 by 18-20 points; only I have demonstrated the actual ability to do just that, to secure the votes necessary to win in November. We have a golden opportunity this year, and I humbly ask your readers to join me in changing the shape of politics here in central Illinois.

David Gill has signed the CUI Constituent Communication Pledge

Find out more about the CUI Constituent Communication Pledge: here.