Steve Caramelli: Candidate Profile

Back to 22nd State Senate District

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: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: caramelliforillinois.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 22nd State Senate District Age: 39Family: Engaged to Fiance Lisa, Son Matthew 10 years old.Occupation: Illinois State TrooperEducation: Bachelor's of Arts Science - Major in Criminal Justice, Minor in Spanish Literature.Graduate coursework in public administrattionCivic involvement: Member of the Illinois State Law Enforcement AssociationMember of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus FoundationVice Chairman Planning and Zoning for the Village of Hoffman EstatesElected offices held: Trustee - Hanover Township, 2013-PDemocratic Committeeman - Hanover Township - 2014-PQuestions Answers What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? Will you vote for your current legislative leader? What is your position on term limits in general and specifically for legislative leaders? Do you support the ongoing drive for a constitutional amendment on redistricting? What will you do to promote implementation of any changes you recommend?Reform starts with sending people to Springfield who are truly committed to representing the people of their districts and putting their interests over politics. As I walk in the 22nd District, our neighbors and friends tell me how frustrated they are that Springfield doesn't seem to want to listen to them. I will work to change that as a State Senator. I'm a believer in empowering the voters to help guide the legislature because we're all in this together. Term limits are currently in place as voters determine through elections if a legislator should continue to serve. I believe the right to determine if an elected official should continue to serve is a right voters are entitled to have and a decision that only they should make. My decision to vote for a legislative leader will be based on whether the best interests of the middle class are on their priority list. I believe in term limits for legislative leaders. I also believe the way we draw our legislative maps deserve a full debate to ensure voter rights are not affected. I support putting the redistricting question on the ballot next year so the voters can have a voice at the table. I will work locally to get the feedback and generate discussion about these and other critical state issues through creating committees of constituents to make recommendations, conducting town hall meetings and talking with the people who send me to Springfield year-round, not just at election time.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems, not just for teachers but for public safety personnel as well?Our pension system faces a serious funding challenge. As the son of two retired union workers and as a public servant myself, I know how important it is for our workers to have an assurance that after many years of teaching our children, protecting our streets and homes and serving the greater good of our communities, they can retire modestly but securely.We have seen the results of efforts to put the solution for this difficult funding problem on the backs of the workers and retirees the system was created to support by attempting to push legislation that was struck down in court as unconstitutional. We should not and cannot cut our way out of this problem.We need a comprehensive solution not only for our pension systems, but our ongoing state budget crisis. I believe that starts with ensuring everyone is at the table â#8364;#8220; the governor, legislators, workers, retirees and taxpayers â#8364;#8220; to thoughtfully consider the options and settle on solutions that stabilize our pension systems without asking workers and retirees to bear the load after they have kept up their end of the bargain for their careers. We have to move past pointing the finger of blame at each other for decades of underfunding and look to each other for the support to restore stability and faith that we will stand by the retirement promises we have made to our public servants.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made? Specifically, what tax increases, changes in tax policy or other opportunities for revenue growth do you support? What is your position on a graduated income tax?Our budget problems in Illinois are largely the result of too many years of budgeting by politics. We see Springfield choose to just get enough done to make it through the next election or use votes against the other political party rather than sitting down and setting priorities that will support and grow our economy and help people who are struggling to get by.We cannot focus just on budget cuts or just on more taxes to find the right answer. We need to put all of the options on table, consider them thoroughly and decide how each will not only affect us tomorrow and next week, but next year and five or 10 years from now. This includes reviewing how we spend our money to administer state programs and services, how we tax our constituents and our businesses and offer them tax incentives to stay and grow here, and what will happen to our citizens when we cut the services and programs they receive or ask them to pay more to support these programs and services.I consider the graduated income tax issue a government reform that deserves public debate. I would welcome putting this issue on the ballot for the voters to weigh in on changing how we ask our citizens to pay their income taxes.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education and education funding? How will you act to promote the changes you wish to see?The most important change the state needs to make is how it continues to underfund education. The state has failed to properly fund education despite of its promise to adequately fund it from the revenues of the lottery and more recently gaming expansion. One of the biggest broken promises from Springfield for the last few decades is its commitment to providing proper education funding. Promises to fund schools out of the state Lottery and on the campaign trail have fallen far short, forcing our cities and counties to raise property taxes far too high to provide the top-quality education we expect around the state. I'm encouraged by the ongoing debate over changing the school funding formula to ensure schools receive a fairer share. I do not and will not support a change that leaves schools in the 22nd District with even less state money. Our schools need a stronger commitment from state government to support our schools and give them certainty that the funds promised today will be there tomorrow. But I'm optimistic if we sit down with the right mindset â#8364;#8220; not suburbs versus Chicago or downstate, but working to improve education all around the state â#8364;#8220; we can build the support in the Legislature and in our communities for funding that gives every child a better chance to succeed in the classroom and after they graduate.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?2014 Primary, Democratic Committeeman for Hanover Township - Elected2013 Consolidated Election, Trustee for Hanover Township â#8364;#8220; ElectedNoWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?A stronger middle class, protecting working families from higher taxes and job losses, while ensure we cut our debt and control spending and taxesAs a candidate, I want to ensure our Government is working the way it is designed to. I want to be able to do more for my constituents to include bringing back home resources to help our schools, roads and economyEnsure public workers and retirees are protected against unconstitutional legislation and working families are supported, not demonizedInject a common-sense approach to legislation at the Capitol that puts the district's and state's best interests firstPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.My mother. As an immigrant, she lived a selfless life to ensure the child she raised would one day make her proudWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents teaching me nothing in life is free. Work hard and you will persevere. Along the way if someone needs help, you help them.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?To have taken ample amount of time to visit my grandparents in Italy.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math. It allowed me to understand how to be fiscally responsible in my personal financesIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be thankful for what you have.