60th District Representative Mayfield: 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: WaukeganWebsite: Www.voteritamayfield.com, www.ritamayfield60.comOffice sought: 60th District Representative Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: State RepresentativeEducation: Master of Science, Management and Organizational Behavior with Emphasis in Organization Development, Benedictine University Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems, Columbia CollegeCivic involvement: Member Harbor Lites Chapter of Links, Inc Volunteer Financial Instructor Habitat For Humanity Board Member, F.I.S.T, inc. Former Vice President Waukegan Board of Education Former Member Waukegan Schools Foundation Former Board Member Ser Jobs For Progress Former Advisory Board Member and youth coach, First Tee of North ChicagoElected offices held: 60th District State Representstive Vice President Waukegan Board of EducationHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: My fingerprints and credit are run every 3-4 months for my contract job However, considering the number of elected officials that are breaking the law AFTER being elected, a better question would be: if elected and you betray public trust and are convicted, are you willing to forfeit your state retirement and any other benefits obtained while in office and will you agree to serve the entire sentence and not accept a plea.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?I will continue to hold programs accountable for outcomes. Will continue to look/push for consolidation of services. This will enable more individuals to receive the services needed without duplicate overhead costs. The most needed change is the budgeting process. We receive multiple budget forecast numbers with each branch budgeting based on different numbers and different processes. This is very inefficient, we need one number and one process. I would prefer that we fund our obligations first (pension, bills, other liabilities) and our most vulnerable second (women, children and seniors). All excess revenues should be directly applied to backlog of billsIf 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?SB1 is unconstitutional and unfair. My Plan B is to Close corporate loopholes, consolidate Treasurer and Comptroller office, eliminate Deputy Governor Position and rescind ethanol tax credit (apply all savings directly to pension obligation), next institute a 401k system for newly hired workers (this will need to be negotiated for union employees). Apply a significant portion of the tax increase, if extended, to pension debt, this is on top of current pension payment and any other savings, which should be paid in full each year.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.The current tax should not be permanent; however, it does need to be extended. A January 1 sunset would put the state in dire financial straits. We need to roll back the tax increase incrementally with restructuring of current programs and processes, as well as some cuts to operations. As a measure of good faith the rate for the 2016 budget which starts July 1, 2015 should be 4%, this could reasonably be done if we close 3 loopholes and rescind one tax credit which would net the state almost $1 billion and adjust down from thereDo 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?We cannot cut our way out of debt but we can make cuts that will make us more efficient and obtain better outcomes. I would start with restructuring State Agencies, decreasing managerial staff and streamlining processes. We also need to move forward with â#128;œBudgeting for Outcomesâ#128;ť funding those agencies/programs that are producing results and either eliminating or consolidating the others. The State plane and all company cars should also be eliminated. We should also look at eliminating Lt. Governor Office and consolidating the Treasure and Comptroller Offices. We also need to close corporate loopholes and rescind outdated tax credits.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?More money in early childhood education and a revamp of poverty dollars and GSA distribution. Separate CPS from the City of Chicago, institute an elected school board and place CPS under the State Board of Education. More emphasis placed on vocational education and restructure school counselor performance evals to include vocational education. Stricter guidelines in elementary schools regarding retention of studentsâ#128;brvbar;no child should be passed out of the 3rd, 5th or 8th that is not performing at grade level. The cost shift would cripple more schools than it would help. Finally exempt schools from all TIFF districtsWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Other issues include consumer protection in the areas of predatory lending and lemon law expansion, recidivism, lowering business fees (LLC), streamlining business processes to make it easier to do business in Illinois, small business grants (from home to brick and mortar), eliminating unfunded school mandates.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Dr. Daisy Brooks, Awarded Citizens Medal of Honor by President Obama. Dr. Brooks has dedicated her life to helping others.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?A good work ethic is the key to success, always listen to MOM and brothers ARE good for somethingIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?More time with my son before he passedWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Reading. I read just about everything that comes across my desk which helps to make informed decisions or at least know what questions to askIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?work hard and make time for family