Laddi K. Singh: 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: PalatineWebsite: www.laddiksingh.orgOffice sought: 54th District Representative Age: 40Family: Married Two children Son and DaughterOccupation: Business OwnerEducation: Bachelor of Computer Science from India Certified Medical Assistant in USACivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.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 meet with representatives of all communities that are part of the 54th District and listen to their concerns and ideas. This includes all ethnic groups and economic classes. Good ideas come from all sources, but the General Assembly does not hear from large parts of our community. I cannot know who I would vote for as Speaker until I know who is running.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?We need to meet with all affected groups, from public employee unions to taxpayers. I believe every group is willing to compromise if they feel other groups are compromising as well. Solutions cannot be imposed; they must be negotiated, and all the participants must "buy in."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.Illinois cannot continue to provide needed services without sufficient revenue. Either the income tax increase must continue (in whole or in part) or there must be other sources of revenue. The best long-term solution is a constitutional amendment allowing a graduated income tax, coupled with property tax relief for overburdened homeowners.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?Under Governor Quinn, the General Assembly has cut state spending by more than $5.7 billion. We should continue to look for ways to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse and to adopt "best practices" of other state, but we cannot balance the budget on the backs of working people.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?Public education is the number one reason people move to the northwest suburbs. We need to maintain and improve the quality of our schools, specifically in the STEM (science, technology, and math) fields. Shifting pension costs to local schools would result in higher property taxes, so I do not support it.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My opponent is not representative of our community. He has focused on ideologically extreme "social issues" while accomplishing nothing that benefits the people of our district. We need a representative who will listen to all of her constituents, not just to fellow extremists.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.FORBES' guide to the extraordinary icons and leaders... Oprah Winfrey!What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Being patient, kind and respectful no matter the circumstances and/or person.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wouldn't say I have any do-overs. Life experiences make one stronger, when acknowledging mistakes or missed opportunities. When a door closes, another opens.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math was one of my favorite subjects. It's shown through my accomplishments in my business life. I will help my children with their math studies.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Respect towards humanity and oneself, through integrity while working hard to achieve one's goals.