61st District Representative Karner: Candidate Profile

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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: Winthrop HarborWebsite: www.facebook.com/LorenKarner61Office sought: 61st District Representative Age: 56Family: My wife Pat and I have three children, Mike (29), Matt (27) and Natalie (25). Matt and his wife Kristi are expecting their first child, so I will soon be a grandparent as well.Occupation: Project Manager, Hartwig Plumbing HeatingEducation: Purdue University, Lafayette, IN - Apprentice Instructor courses in curriculum related to the plumbing industry. College of Lake County - Courses in supervision for project management, leadership skills and time management.Civic involvement: I have been deeply involved with our local schools for many years, both through my work on two separate school boards and through volunteering and coaching when my children were attending those schools. My family received a â#128;œFamily of Yearâ#128;ť Award from Zion-Benton High School to acknowledge our involvement and volunteer activities. I am also active with the area Masons and Shriners.Elected offices held: - Winthrop Harbor Village Trustee from 1991 â#128;#147; 1995. - Winthrop Harbor School District #1 Board Member from 1995 - 2005 - Zion-Benton High School District #126 Board Member from 2005 to present.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Questions 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?Iâ#128;™ve been called the â#128;œLone Dissenterâ#128;ť for standing against raising taxes on the struggling middle-class families in my district. I strongly believe that just one person may spark change and I am running to bring some common sense to Springfield. We must recalibrate the state budget for the long term, only spending money we have and making sure we spend efficiently on programs that work. If I have the privilege to represent the 61st District, every single vote I take will be based on the answer to one question: â#128;œIs this what is best for the people I work for?â#128;ťIf 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?The stateâ#128;™s trouble with pension funding has snowballed out of control over the years due to gross mismanagement by our past General Assemblies and governors. All parties with an interest in the health of our public pension systems, especially the working men and women who pay their fair share into those systems, must have a voice at the table when we as a state negotiate legislation affecting those systems. I believe we can keep our pension funds solvent if we succeed in bringing together all of these parties to work towards an agreed solution.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 understand the stateâ#128;™s significant fiscal challenges, but I do not support extending the income tax increase or any other tax policy that increases taxes on middle-class families. Families have to make do with less these days, but the state government just keeps spending more and more. The general frustration people have with our state government and the feeling that it canâ#128;™t keep its promises has led far too many to consider moving out of state.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?Yes, absolutely. For starters, we should look to consolidate or eliminate pay for the countless number of boards of commissions we have in our state. We also should cut the state air and vehicle fleet and consolidate the state offices of the comptroller and treasurer. I support a proposal requiring voters to approve any future salary increases for lawmakers. And when politicians commit appalling crimes, they should absolutely not be entitled to receive taxpayer benefits; I will work to pass legislation making it illegal for any public official charged with a felony to receive any taxpayer-funded pension.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 oppose the pension cost-shift. Having served on our local school boards, I know first-hand how the state has short-changed and underfunded our schools. Forcing our local schools to take on these costs will only lead to increased property taxes and cuts in classroom spending. The state needs to be a more reliable partner in education. Constant delays and unexpected reductions in state payments are devastating for local school districts. Ultimately, the state can greatly improve education by working with dedicated teachers, parents and administrators who give their time and energy every day to helping children fulfill their true potential.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?For my district, the most important issue is job growth. Illinois needs a business climate that encourages companies both large and small to expand and create more good-paying employment opportunities. We need to attract new businesses by highlighting the many infrastructure and educational advantages we have, while improving our tax code and stabilizing the state budget. Locally, I have worked to improve educational outcomes by pushing our school to use more technology and innovative techniques to better prepare students for the workforce in the 21st century. I would like to push for these changes on the state level as well.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Commander Shulte and Master Chief Hackstein, who lead the respectful and disciplined young adults of the Navy Junior ROTC at Zion-Benton Township High School.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My mother has been an advocate for taxpayers for many years and inspired me as a public servant to be conservative when managing taxpayer dollars.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I really love the life that I have with my family. If I could go back in time, I might decide to have more children.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject was math. It has enormously helped me in my profession and in the roles I have played on our local school boards.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I hope they will continue to give back to our community and remember that community and family are the most important things in life.