Don Wilson: 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: GurneeWebsite: www.wilsonforillinois.comOffice sought: 30th District Senate Age: 42Family: Wife: Debbie Daughter: Samantha Daughter: AshleyOccupation: Small Business OwnerEducation: Gateway Technical College College of Lake County. No DegreeCivic involvement: Trustee in the Village of Gurnee, Rotarian, Exchange Club, Former Chair of Gurnee Days Media.Elected offices held: Zoning Board of Appeals, Gurnee Trustee, GureeQuestions 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 believe in term limits so that the focus of being in Springfield is on the people's work and not retaining power.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 look at spending cuts. Too often politicians look at the budget in groups and not individual line items. This creates political wedges that keep anything from being accomplished.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.It was sold to Illinois as a temporary tax increase. Then the same people who voted for it, increased spending. I would vote for a three year gradual reduction if spending cuts were included. This would help our bond rating and help us save money!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?We need to look at each line from every department. Also, eliminating fraud would make our state look less welcoming to abusers and more fiscally sound.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?We need to make sure we are giving the next generation a chance to succeed. We can do more with our local employers to make sure our students are job/career ready. The pension cost-shift was would put an unhealthy burden on local municipalities that are trying to catch up with the unfunded mandate delivered from Springfield to deal with Police and Fire Pensions.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?We need to make Illinois more competitive for employers to move or stay here. We can also save millions of dollars by getting our fiscal house in order to improve our bond rating. An elected official also needs to be involved in the communities that they represent.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pastor H. Lee JordanWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Self reliance.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Furthering my education.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Marketing, it helped me start a business in 1998 and get elected as a Trustee in Gurnee.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Believe in yourself.