44th District Representative Juarez: 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: StreamwoodWebsite: http://www.votejuarez.com/Office sought: 44th District Representative Age: 32Family: Ramiro and his wife XÃsup3;chitl, their two young boys, Arturo (5), and Diego (3), live in Streamwood.Occupation: School TeacherEducation: JuÃiexcl;rez graduated from Rolling Meadows High School and then completed an undergraduate degree in History at DePaul University. He went on to complete a Masterâ#128;™s Degree in Teaching from Rockford College.Civic involvement: I help as the Public Outreach Coordinator for my church and a volunteer Sunday School teacher. I also serve as president of my home owners association.Elected 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?Springfield is in dire need of bi-partisan leadership. I will proactively work with House Democrats to address our states financial crisis while protecting vital programs like education. Furthermore, itâ#128;™s time that we show respect and keep an open mind to othersâ#128;™ positions. We can no longer have this all or nothing mentality that has failed Illinoisans. This is the only way to move Illinois forward. Although his influence is limited as minority leader, I appreciate a moderate like Jim Durkin and his efforts to work constructively with Speaker Madigan.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 the Supreme Court strikes down SB 1, and I believe they will, lawmakers need to forge a solution that includes input and compromise from all vested parties. A real solution starts with agreement, not bullying tactics from Speaker Madigan to cram something through the legislature. Teachers donâ#128;™t have Social Security and have never missed a pension contribution, and they want to address this contractual relationship with a feasible and financially sound solution to assure that teachers have a reliable and safe retirement that does NOT create a heavy burden on Illinois taxpayers.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.No. Our stateâ#128;™s fiscal situation has not improved since the passage of the income tax increase in 2011. Despite higher revenues, reckless spending threatens public education and pensions. If our state had proper oversight we could easily save more cutting waste, fraud, and abuse than the income hike provides. For example, I would investigate overhauling Medicaid. A private company recently found 40% of Medicaid recipients ineligible. I will NOT cut social programs for those who need them, but we need to make sure people that donâ#128;™t qualify anymore do not take advantage of them.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?As one of the single largest expenditures, I would investigate overhauling Medicaid. A private company recently found 40% of Medicaid recipients ineligible. These are people living out-of-state. Months ago the Sun-Times reported $12 million in benefits going to dead people. Iâ#128;™m not making this stuff up. Conservative estimates, show we could save $1.5 to $1.9 billion a year here alone. Crafting our state budget should be a deliberative process where legislators have an opportunity to review spending, line-by-line. Instead Speaker Michael Madigan and willing cohorts like my opponent Fred Crespo, cram these budget bills through before anyone can read them.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?First, the state should begin fully funding its schools in accordance with state budgets. Currently the state is funding schools at 89 cents for every dollar appropriated. Doing this allows incumbent legislators like my opponent to brag about not cutting education. These budget gimmicks are deceiving. Second, we need to reform the stateâ#128;™s school funding formula which gives Chicago priority over our suburban schools through special grants. Recent government reports link these same grants to waste, corruption, and potentially criminal activity in the Chicago Public School System. Third, education resources need to be focused on classroom learning.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Term Limits â#128;#147; After four terms, it is time to move on from the Illinois House. Limiting a politicianâ#128;™s span of service helps them focus on what they were sent by the people to do. Endless re-election campaigns and the accumulation of power by too many for too long have led Illinois to its current state of dysfunction. I donâ#128;™t care if youâ#128;™re a Republican or a Democratâ#128;brvbar; Itâ#128;™s time to move one and elect new leadership.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis. He's an authentic leader and lives in simplicity.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My father taught me that life isn't easy or fair and that working hard and advocating for those less fortunate is good for the soul.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Voting for my opponent.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science/Technology. Robotics has inspired me to work with 3rd-6th graders in S.T.E.M.(Science,Technology,Engineering,Mathematics). I want to facilitate opportunities for our community to compete in this area.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Grandpa taught us that "life isn't easy or fair and that working hard and advocating for those less fortunate is good for the soul."