Amanda Howland: 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: Lake ZurichWebsite: http://www.amandaforsenate.comOffice sought: 26th District SenateAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married, no children, 3 sisters, 2 nieces and 1 nephew, 4 cats.Occupation: Attorney, Trustee at College of Lake County, former School Administrator, former Teacher of Emotionally Disturbed StudentsEducation: B.S. in Education - teaching emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered M.A. Psychology M.S. in Educational Administration J.D. with special certificate in Intellectual Property LawCivic involvement: Member Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce; Trained Guardian ad Litem; Trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); Member and former Marketing Chair for HWWC (a 501(c)(3) supporting women and children in need); Nationally ranked gymnastics judge; Annual Special Olympics volunteer judge; Member of Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee; Member of Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Opus Member at Ravinia; Season subscriber of Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony; I frequently volunteer to assist with fundraising for various non-profit groups; Election Protection Attorney in Toledo, OH for the 2004 election.Elected offices held: Trustee - College of Lake County (2008 to present), Elected Board Secretary (2012); Ela Township Precinct 84 Committee Person (2011-present); Ela Township Precint 83 Committee Person (2004-2011);Appointed IHSA Athletic Official?s Council (2010 to present); Marketing Chair ? Hawthorn Woods Women?s Charity (501(c) (3)) (2005-2009); Appointed to Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Council (2004 to present); Appointed Chair of Illinois State Bar Association Intellectual Property Council (2003-2004), Vice-President (2003-2003), Secretary (2001-2002); Caravel Condominium Association Vice President (2004-2006); Chicago Kent College of Law Student Bar Association President (1995-1996), Treasurer (1994-1995); Class Representative (1993-1994).Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NeverCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Working toward a solution to our current pension crisis and overall budget deficit.Key Issue 2 Creating more jobs. Getting those who are unemployed back to work.Key Issue 3 Ethics! Elected officials are public servants. They represent everyone, not just special interest groups, lobbyists or a particular party. We must work on a way to bring colleagiality and civility back to the legislature. We all have to work together, compromise and listen to both sides if we are ever going to work toward real solutions to the problems currently facing Illinois.Questions Answers How would you fix the state's pension gap? Should pension costs be shifted to suburban school districts? Why or why not? Should this issue be voted on in a lame-duck session? Why or why not? How can partisan gridlock be eased to solve the crisis?I am a former teacher, school administrator and currently a Trustee at College of Lake County, so I have a clear understanding of how this issue affects multiple entities. The problem was created by politicians from both parties who put politics before policy and kept putting off mandated pension fund payments. It has taken more than thirty years to get to our current position and there is no easy fix. Currently, a number of proposals are on the table. Unfortunately, the continued partisanship and finger pointing has not allowed either house to find a consensus. We MUST do better. We need a solution that protects the retirement security already earned and paid for by our workforce. The pension shortfalls must be addressed now. This should not wait until after the elections. All options should be on the table and all affected groups should have a voice in the process. Everyone will have to compromise and give up something. This is the only way that we can hope to find a sensible and constitutional solution to the state?s pension shortfall. I would support shifting future pension obligations to local school districts as long as it does not place additional burdens on already over-encumbered property owners. This can be done in a responsible, constitutional way. The State needs to fulfill its obligation those who paid into their pensions and also to properly allocate funds so we do not end up with an additional funding shortfall going forward.How, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a "deadbeat state?" How will you vote on future gambling bills? What is your view of slots at racetracks? Casino expansion?First, we have to rethink our budget process. Just as business must, we should have performance measures in place that track every dollar the state spends. Such measures would provide a more accurate picture of the value of each tax dollar and would assist in setting each new budget. I believe that we still have room to cut out waste and fraud. There are still areas that lack sufficient accountability. Also, I am in favor of eliminating duplicative state offices and administrative positions. There is no reason to spend tax dollars on positions that could be consolidated. Next, we need to invest in infrastructure projects, broadband, transportation and other capital projects that will provide good paying jobs and grow the economy at the local level. This will create many desperately needed jobs and putting more people back to work will help the state's financial situation. Gambling is a double edged sword. On one hand expansion potentially creates thousands of jobs. Employed people spend money - which helps our economy. In addition, gambling licenses, taxes and fees directly increase state revenues. That's money that can be directed to pension funds and other vital governmental services. However, on the other hand, gambling may add to addiction problems, additional crime, and corruption and so on. I would support an increase in gambling/gaming only if strict ethics guidelines and consistent regulations are in place.What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? How can you help create jobs in your district and statewide? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears?Putting people back to work, digging out from under our current deficit and getting our economy growing again and educating our workforce in order to compete in a global economy are extremely important to my campaign. The well being of Illinois' residents depends on these issues. Lack of up to date infrastructure is a huge problem in Illinois. Traffic gridlock, lack of sufficient mass transit, out of date technology for power and water are costing the state significant dollars. I will work across party lines to identify public-private partnership opportunities to strengthen our roads, our bridges and rail lines to grow the economy from the ground up. I believe that tax credits for owners of both small and large business that create jobs are useful incentives. However, there must be a quid pro quo. If a business receives breaks they must be held accountable and actually provide the jobs, services and/or goods promised when given the tax break.Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during an election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus? Why or why not? Do you support or oppose campaign contribution limits? Please explain.Elected officials are supposed to be "public servants." Government should be comprised of those who have the strongest credentials and skills, not those who can spend the most money during an election cycle. Unfortunately PACs and lobbyists have made this impossible. I believe that reasonable campaign caps on individuals, corporations and political action committees make sense - they help level the playing field. When billionaires with Super-Pacs spend unaccountable sums of money on elections to protect their business interests, ordinary citizens need the resources to fight back. My campaign is based on direct voter contact. People deserve to talk face-to-face to the people who ask for their vote. My donors are local. My campaign is lean, but not mean. I plan to win this election with hard work, personal contact and honesty and will humbly serve as the State Senator for the 26 district, representing ALL constituents in the district.Should gay marriage be legalized in Illinois? Should it be voted on in a lame-duck session as civil unions were? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception? How would you vote on a concealed carry plan? Should the death penalty return?I support equal rights for all, regardless of gender. I do not believe that elected officials should use lame duck sessions to avoid making tough decisions that impact their constituents. Serving your voters should be more important than avoiding issues to protect one's office. I have four physicians in my immediate family. I rely on their medical knowledge and am pro-choice. I have a FOID card and have training in the use of weapons. My bother-in-law is an avid hunter. I support the second amendment and the current state gun law. As an attorney, I am against the death penalty. The law does not always protect the innocent just as it does not always properly convict those who are guilty.