Thomas Cullerton: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Villa ParkWebsite: http://www.tomcullertonforsenate.comOffice sought: 23rd District SenateAge: 42Family: Married, 3 boys ages 11-7Occupation: Route Sales Representative Teamster Local 734 Village President Village of Villa ParkEducation: Attended University of Kansas Oakton Community College US Army VeteranCivic involvement: Knights of Columbus American Legion Youth Baseball and Football Coach Citizens Police Academy CERT- Cert. Emergency Response Team Neighborhood Watch Captain Village President Scout Volunteer DuPage Mayors and Managers Illinois Municipal League Metropolitan Mayors CaucusElected offices held: Villa Park Village Trustee 2005-2009 Villa Park Village President 2009-2013 DuPage Water Commission elected by Mayors of District 2 Jan 2011- 2017 6 year termHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My number 1 focus in Springfield will be to get our financial house in order. We need to start balancing our budget every year. To make funding our pensions and paying our bills our top priorities. Working towards a stronger more stable economy to bring more jobs here to Illinois.Key Issue 2 My number 2 issue would be a focus on education and the funding of our system throughout the State. A way to even the playing field. I have three boys that I need to make sure have the best opportunities in our education system to have a strong future.Key Issue 3 Utilizing our resources and advancing our Green opportunities. Creating more green energy for our State will also increase our job opportunities.Questions Answers What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears? For incumbents, how did you vote on the Sears plan in this fall's veto session?To help the economy in my district I would work towards establishing a business opportunity co-op with all the municipalities in the district. Have each one of them work together finding ways to recruit and retain business. I believe they were too large and didn't have enough "strings" attached.Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during a general election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus' Why or why not?No, there are only so many ways to run elections and unless there is a complete even playing field for all campaigns will always have monetary disparity.How, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a "deadbeat state?" How have you or will you vote on future gambling bills' What is your view of slots at racetracks' Casino expansion?I would propose an immediate budget plan that pays our bills first. Before any spending occurs we need to implement a strategy where our bills get taken out of our budget before anything else. I will be in favor of gambling. I would like to see the different proposals before weighing in on how far gambling expansion can go.What do you specifically support to deal with the state's pension gap? Would you vote for House Republican Leader Tom Cross's three-tier pension plan? Why or why not?I don't support the 3 tier plan. I believe you need to have all parties at the table before making a decision that so adversely affects the future of so many. Not just teachers but the children of the State as well. I do agree that there will need to be a change from where we are at now but only when we partner with all of the leadership involved can we find a solution.Should gay marriage be legalized? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception as others have? How would you vote on a concealed carry firearm plan? Should the death penalty be reinstated?I am not against gay marriage.I am Pro-Choice. I would like to take a serious look and conceal carry laws and weigh out how they have played out in other States, as I believe Illinois is the only State to not allow it. I would like to see Illinois have the ability to do so. Only if the death penalty system is truly vetted to make sure the large amount of mistakes are no longer going to occur.