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64th District Representative Mains: Candidate Profile

64th District Representative (Democrat)

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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:BioQA Bio City: Crystal LakeWebsite: www.joelmains.org (under construction)Office sought: 64th District Representative Age: 55Family: wife Kathi Hurst son, daughter and three step-daughters One deceased. Four grandchildren.Occupation: Firefighter/paramedicEducation: Working toward an AAS at MCCCivic involvement: On the Board of Directors of the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM), Volunteer with the Pink Heals Tour, Great Lakes Regional VP Pink Heals TourElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions Answers How will you work to make the General Assembly function more productively and effectively? Wlll you vote to retain your party's current legislative leader? In what specific ways do you support changing how government in Springfield works?Bipartisanship seems to be the rule of the day, I'll work with members on both sides of the aisle to ensure the citizens of Illinois and the residents of the 64th District get their money's worth out of Springfield. I will vote to retain Speaker Madigan and Majority Leader Currie. Both are proven leaders with the best interests of the state as their guiding principles. But Iâ#128;™ll also make sure party leadership understands the importance of equitable treatment for the working families of the 64th District.If the Supreme Court, strikes down the SB 1 pension reform, what is your Plan B and why do you think it would be both legal and effective?If SB 1 is proven unconstitutional, I would put focus on SB 2404 which, as legislation crafted through the â#128;œagreed-bill process, used input from the stakeholders to create language that was fair to all parties involved and also addressed the budget effects of pension â#128;œshortfallsâ#128;ť. If, for instance, you make $50,000 a year and have a $150,000 mortgage, you have â#128;œunfunded liabilityâ#128;ť but as long as your income exceeds your payment every month, youâ#128;™re fine. If your income gets cut to $25,000 you now have to find a way to generate more revenue.As it stands now, the 2011 income tax increase will expire as planned on Jan. 1. Do you think that expiration should be reconsidered? Would you support making the increase permanent or extending it for some period of time? Please be specific about what level of tax increase, if any, you would support.I definitely think the expiration should be revisited. I would support a statewide referendum on the ballot giving voters the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment to implement a graduated income tax. I believe the â#128;œmillionaireâ#128;™s taxâ#128;ť as proposed on the November ballot is an example of creating additional revenue for the state. A 3% tax on income above $1 million is estimated to generate $1 billion annually.Do you support cuts in state spending? If so, what specifically do you suggest cutting and how will those cuts be sufficient to restore the state's financial health and economic climate?Any budget has areas that can be cut. However education and infrastructure are not the places where these cuts should occur. As suggested by the University of Illinois â#128;œIllinois Budget Policy Toolbox, requiring â#128;œcuts at the department or agency level- rather than at the program level- for greater flexibilityâ#128;ť and allowing â#128;œfor differential percentage cuts among the different departments or agencies based on a current assessment of policy priorities and the impact of reduced government spending on those priorities.â#128;ť But cuts alone wonâ#128;™t restore fiscal health to Illinois. We must grow revenue.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education? Would you support the the so-called pension cost-shift to local schools?I would support holding charter schools to the same standards as public schools as far as teacher quality and access for all students. I would support charter operators and individual schools accountability and transparency for all processes, budgeting, salaries and contracts with private vendors. I would support the right of charter school teachers and staff to form unions. We need to take great care to best serve the educational needs and protect the interests of our children.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The County Boards in McHenry and Lake counties have identified needs for; high-speed internet access, improved infrastructure, environmental sustainability and many more ideas to improve the area. These are not, or at least shouldnâ#128;™t be, Republican issues or Democrat issues. These are issues to improve the quality of life in the 64th District. Iâ#128;™ll work hard to ensure Springfield supports the issues weâ#128;™ve identified as important to the residents of the 64th.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman. He's not your typical "fire and brimstone" football coach yet he has a winning track record.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To achieve anything in life, you have to earn it. There's no substitute for hard work.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wouldn't change a thing. I recognize my life has been blessed and chaging anything might change everything.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I think History. It's helped me to try not to repeat lessons learned by those that came before me.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Pay attention to those important to you. Life is so fragile, we must strive to live it to it's fullest with thosze we love.