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Dawn Abernathy: Candidate Profile

59th State House District (Republican)

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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: MundeleinWebsite: DawnAbernathy.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 59th State House District Age: 50Family: Mark Abernathy - HusbandAkaysha Abernathy - DaughterMaggie Abernathy - DaughterOccupation: Trustee - Village of MundeleinEducation: Bachelor Science - University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fl.MAT - Education, National Louis UniversityCivic involvement: Mundelein Community ConnectionMundelein MainstreetSanta Maria del PopoloMund/VH Rotary - Paul Harris FellowGLMVBuffalo GroveLincolnshire Chamber CommerceSchool District 75 Innovation/Makers ClubYouthage Culinary School FundraiserElected offices held: Village of Mundelein - TrusteeLake County Housing Authority - Board CLCJAWA - Alt. Board MemberQuestions 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?The Illinois State legislature is broken. It is under the control of career politicians that rule over every step of the legislative process. No piece of legislation is introduced, brought out of committee or voted on without the approval of one person, Mike Madigan. The days of Illinois representatives being under his control have got to end. If you look in the dictionary for the phrase "term Limits" there should be a picture of Mike Madigan. As a trustee, I was the deciding vote for Term Limits in Mundelein. I want term limits for all elected offices, federal, state and local. If elected, I will advance legislation for term limits and I have already signed a pledge to limit myself to term limits.I completely support the Independent Map reform. Just look at the 59th District; It is one of the most gerrymandered districts in Illinois. No politician should have that much control over voters, period. We need to return the power back to the people, not the people in power. I have always been honest, and outspoken. I am not a "polished politician" that spouts talking points. I am a mom, a wife, a friend, and a resident of Illinois. As a Trustee I have seen first-hand, and have had to make decisions based on the bad government that is coming out of Springfield. I will stand-up to Leadership and work with all the Representatives, no matter party designation, to get the reforms needed.Would you vote for an increase in state income taxes or sales taxes? Would you vote for new taxes, such as on services? What is your position on a graduated income tax?Mike Madigan and his soldier, Carol Sente is trying to make it seem like there is no other answer to the budget crisis than raising taxes. Illinois collects more than enough money, about $32 billion. The problem is that currently we are on track to spend about $39 billion. In fact, we have not had a balanced budget since 2001. This is not sustainable. We need to prioritize where the money is spent. The tax hike from 2011- 2014 created an additional $31 billion, yet nothing was done to pay down the debt, pay down the pensions, or provide for social services and k-12 education. I would not vote to approve any tax increases without spending reforms. A graduated income tax does nothing but to hurt the middle-class. It has already happened in states that have adopted a graduated income tax. Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan have implemented economic policies that have grown the economy. Just drive up the I94 corridor and see all the construction and economic growth - and it is only beginning. These are businesses that should be here in Illinois.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.Allow families to decide where their child is educated, what school is best for their child. Instead of sending the money to bureaucracies like CPS, the state would send the money with the child. It will change how the money flows and who makes the decision on how Illinois taxpayers' monies are spent on students in K-12 education. It is time that we start investing in our children.Politicians and public sector unions have too much control over our dollars, parents have too little. The politicians, including Carol Sente, have continuously protected this failed system for the unions that continue to fund their campaigns.Now, they want to go even further. They want to take our tax dollars and reallocate millions of dollars of state funding to CPS. My opponent, Carol Sente, supports SB231 which would take funding from our schools and redirect those dollars into the pockets of failing schools. It is time to put parents and students ahead of the unions. I will go to Springfield to expand educational opportunities for all children in Illinois. We need to put the power of school choice in the hands of the people that know the students best, parents. "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world" - Nelson MandelaOn Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?There is a lot of spending that supports the political elite and their financial backers. It is wasteful spending that needs to be cut first such as the $35 million dollar school grant that was awarded outside of normal grant lines, in Mike Madigan's district. Gateway Motorsports Park received $500,000 from the general fund; Senator Cullerton was able to find construction money to the tune of $10 million for a theater in his district. Do we need to spend $250,000 from the general fund to celebrate the state's birthday when we are broke? Do we need to spend $700,000 on bronze doors for the Capitol Building? We need to prioritize spending. We can't continue to provide funding for "pet projects" while the families that truly need the services is being ignored. Illinois has approximately 2,000 more government bodies than any other state. We need to consolidate and cross-train some of these departments and divisions. One quarter of every dollar collected goes to fund Illinois pensions. This is no longer sustainable. We need to build our economic climate in Illinois. Bring companies and families back. We need pension reform, workman's comp reform and tort reform. Businesses are fleeing Illinois, moving to more favorable states and the employees are going with them. Illinois has a "zero" net gain in employment, while states around us are growing their economy.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?The pension liability is the number one reform that has to be immediately addressed. We need to provide for those that are already in the pension system, but moving forward, there has to be changes.Since the courts ruled SB1 unconstitutional, there are no modifications that can be made to the current pensions. The lawmakers, government workers, judges and teachers are the beneficiaries of promises that lawmakers made and can't keep. We need to move new workers to a self-managed, 401(k) type plan. We can also give current employees the option of switching their plan.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The State of Illinois is a political and economic mess. We have reached this point after decades of mismanagement and political corruptness. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, continuing with the status-quo will bring no change to our current situation. We need leaders that will work for the best interest of the people. A leader that will revitalize our economy, change Springfield's culture of corruption and improve our lives. Starting with myself, I will opt out of the pension system. I will not be hypocritical and add to the financial burden of the taxpayers.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis has brought the Catholic Church into the 21st Century. He has led with a message of love and kindness for all people.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The lesson I learned was respect. Even though we can have differences, it is through those differences that real change can happen.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't think I would do anything over, every event in my life has made me the person I am today.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History, especially the Revolutionary War. The colonist were committing treason to create the greatest country in the world. Our Founding Fathers were truly brave men.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Never let anyone tell you how to live your life, it is called your life for a reason. You make the decisions.