Mike Strick: 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: NapervilleWebsite: pickstrick84.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 84th State House District Age: 54Family: Married to Paula Banks Strick. Sons Chad and Ryan Strick. Daughter Madeline StrickOccupation: Self Employed Business OwnerEducation: B.S. Biological Sciences NIU 1985Civic involvement: Head football coach NYFL 2003-2011Numerous volunteer hours with YMCA (baseball, hockey, basketball.Sunday school teacher Wheatland Salem Church. Board member NYFL youth football. Precinct committeemanWheatland Township. Member Sigma Pi Fraternity NIU. Small business owner since 1994.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions 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?I believe that the legislature is mired in one rule partisanship. To make government flow, dialog must occur. Unfortunately, the house of Representatives does not and will not work effectively without legislatures doing whats right for all the people of Illinois not just the people working for the government. I will vote for anyone other than Michael Madigan. I believe term limits are essential in the House and Senate. Often, with great regularity corruption takes place. Term limits would root out corruption.I support redistricting. Common sense should rule the day with well thought out discussion and examples where it has worked in other jurisdictions. I believe every law and idea has been brought to the table somewhere in the U.S.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?I would not vote for an increase in the state income taxes or state taxes because the people of Illinois are already taxed enough. We must stop the cycle of tax and spend. I would not vote in the positive for any new taxes. When was the last time we heard of any tax cuts or reductions. That is what I will fight for if elected. Once again no more taxes. A graduated income tax will drive even more people from the state of Illinois.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.I believe the current funding for educations is adequatet. Most suburban school districts have already cut as much as they can and have increased fees to the parents. This nickel and dime tactics infuriates the parents when their taxes are already high. If Chicago needs additional revenues for CPS I might suggest that they implement the same property tax formulas as the suburban school systems.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?Illinois has over 7000 forms of government. Lets start there. Then we can proceed to the unfunded mandates and get those reduced or eliminated. I would like to see less borrowing which just burns through tax dollars. I would like to see a 401k style retirement in our state which mirrors the private sector companies still left in Illinois.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?Looking at the State of Illinois pension crisis that is 117 Billion dollars in the red, many painful decisions need to be made. As the unfunded pension system moves forward it will gobble more and more of the dollars for needed services. It is unsustainable in its current form.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As a business owner I rely on running my business on what I can afford. I strongly believe borrowing money is this states greatest failure. We are spending beyond our means and it will result in higher taxes and businesses leaving to other states. It will also mean more and more people leaving as well. The harmful cycle needs to end.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bruce Rauner inspires me he believes in what he is trying to accomplish. He is fighting for the average person.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I was taught to try to repair something instead of throwing it out and buying new. I see a lot of waste in Illinois.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?IF I had a do over I would buy every GTO, Road Runner, Camaro, Mustang or any other muscle car from 1971.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I was well rounded in school. Changed my major a few times from business to biology. Worked as a vendor at Comisky and Wrigley fields.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always be humble and kind.