Current Issues!

Suburbanites have unique viewpoints, interests, and perspectives.

Springfield has ignored the interests of suburban voters.

I will make sure Springfield hears our voice.

Our economy will flourish only by attracting jobs that will allow workers to support their families and get ahead.

We need to attract today’s growth industries: professional services, high-tech, education, creative industries, and the healthcare.

Illinois should take a leadership role in promoting alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and clean fuel as well as research and development into new methods of tackling climate change, as well as, promoting energy conservation and responsible environmental stewardship. We must encourage private sector jobs in this area in this rapidly developing industry.

Our colleges and universities must have relevant, long-term research agendas that will contribute to our state’s future.

This public-private partnership will create a strong foundation for our economy that encourages forward-thinking entrepreneurship, maintains our competitiveness, and generates good, new jobs.

Create incentives for small businesses to hire Illinois residents

Small businesses don’t have the clout to obtain Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs)and other tax breaks.

We must stop giving TIF tax breaks to big, out-of-state corporations that create only low-wage jobs.

Instead, we should provide tax benefits to businesses that create new jobs. If the business eliminates the jobs or moves them out of state within five years, it would have to repay the benefits.

Rebuild our infrastructure

It is shortsighted not to maintain our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure

When the bridge in Minnesota collapsed, people died, and the disruption of business cost far more than it would have cost to maintain the bridge

Infrastructure projects create good jobs, improve public safety, and keep the economy working.

Fiscal responsibility

The lack of a balanced budget causes serious problems for many people. Fees for all state services have increased. The state’s terrible credit rating results in taxpayers paying a heftier burden through higher borrowing costs, on top of already-increased fees for all state services. Our ballooning deficit represents a situation we can no longer tolerate.

Millions have been appropriated but left unpaid to school districts and state universities. If Illinois does not meet its obligations, tuition and fees are rising. This is especially difficult for hardworking families trying to build strong foundations for their children’s futures and risking long-term economic stagnation.

Delinquent payments to medical providers cause increase medical costs and reduced services to serving Medicaid patients.

We must put the state on a sound fiscal footing without raising the burden on struggling middle-class families.

Make our tax structure fairer

The sales tax and property tax affect middle-class families more than wealthy individuals and corporations.

We need a more progressive tax structure that reduces this inequality. We must restore a fairness to our tax system that allows everyday working people meet their bills and financial obligations.

We should broaden the sales tax base to cover services, so we can afford to reduce the property and state sales tax rates.

Eliminate wasteful layers of government

We cannot afford duplicative and wasteful layers of government.

The office of Lieutenant Governor is with official duties, except the replacement of the governor and should be abolished. With strict financial oversight and controls merging the State Treasurer and Comptroller’s offices could realize significant savings.

Combining the various County taxing offices (Assessor, Treasurer, Clerk, and Recorder of Deeds) Would save many tax dollars.

Township road districts spend several times as much per mile as municipalities do. Contracting maintenance of road and bridges to nearby municipalities or private contractors would allow the elimination of township road districts entirely.

The elected Township Collector has no duties at all and should also be eliminated.

To attract new businesses to Illinois, and to retain the ones we have, requires a highly-educated work force.

Investing in high-quality early childhood education is far more economical to than providing remedial education to students later grades.

Our successful school systems should be a model for improving our failing schools.

The jobs of today and tomorrow require more than a high school education. The key to success for many middle class students lies in our community colleges and state universities. This we help ensure a stronger long term state economy.

The Illinois Constitution requires that the state be the primary source of educational funding. As your State Representative, I understand and appreciate that obligation to current and future generations.

Help working families afford quality higher education

We must fulfill our financial obligations to the University of Illinois and other colleges and universities.

We should increase college loans and scholarship opportunities for children of middle-class families, primarily by attracting grants from charitable and educational organizations.

The state should guarantee loans to first-generation college students. By providing a designated amount of public service after graduating, student loans may forgiven or reduced.

Eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy

Unnecessary red tape and a web of overlapping jurisdictions frustrate the small businesses that create most of the jobs in Illinois.

I propose a one-time waiver of penalties for any small business for minor violations of state or local regulations, unless they endanger health or safety.

Give small Illinois businesses preference on state and local contracts

Big corporations can afford government relations professionals to help them obtain government contracts.

Small Illinois-based businesses should be given preference in obtaining contract work from state and local governments. This would eliminate the need for some minority set-asides.

Government should protect the rights of all Illinois residents.

Women should have the right to make reproductive choices. Reduction in the number of abortions by education, contraception, and encouraging adoption, should be a goal of the state.

Law-abiding citizens have the right to self-defense in their own homes and to hunt, but reasonable gun legislation, can preserve our second amendment rights and ensure our safety.

Protection of religious beliefs and expression is a fundamental right. It is best accomplished by avoiding the entanglement of government and religion.

Stop the growth of red-light spy cameras and limit their use as a source of revenue for municipal or county government.

Voters are tired of cynicism, negativity, appeals to prejudice, and personal attacks.

We may disagree on how to get there, but we all want to make sure that the American Dream remains a reality for future generations. Whether we label ourselves Democrats, Republicans, or independents, we are bound together by this common spirit.

We should reject the efforts of those who would drive a wedge between us, and use our fears and concerns to play us against our neighbors. We must work together to solve the serious problems that we face.

Our common good requires a common effort.

I will do my part to encourage this spirit of civic responsibility by:


• Engaging my constituents through regular public forums and personal contact.

• Reaching across the aisle in the State House and at home, remembering that good ideas and good people are not confined to one party label or the other.

• Keeping myself open to the thoughts and concerns of the people of the 54th district, not party leadership.