Bob Daiber: 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: MarineWebsite: bobdaiber.comTwitter: @bobdaiberFacebook: @bobdaiber2018Office sought: Governor Age: 61Family: Married to my wife Karen of 25 years. We have two boys who both attend Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville.Occupation: Regional Superintendent of Schools in Madison CountyEducation: Doctorate of Education (Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, 1990), Master of Science in Education (Eastern Illinois University, 1979), Bachelor of Science in Education (Eastern Illinois University, 1978), Associate of Arts (Belleville Area College, 1976) Triad High School, Troy, Ill. (1974)Civic involvement: - Supporter of Venice Head Start Program - Marine Lion's Club Member - Sponsor of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville "Arts Issues Series" - Developer of 20th Century Madison County History Project - Member of Southwestern Leadership Council - District Director of Cahokia Mounds Boy Scouts--Lewis Clark Council - Vice President of Learning for Life--St. Louis Boy Scouts Council - Developer of Give 30 Mentoring Program (visit Give30.net) - Supporter of Alton NAACP--Back-to-School Drive Christmas Shopping program - Supporter of Alton Concerned Citizens - Supporter of Alton 100 Black Men Organization - Village of Marine Parade CoordinatorElected offices held: Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools (2007-present), Madison County Board member (2002-07), Marine Township supervisor (2001-present), TrusteeÃâ#128;~Village of Marine (1997-2001)Questions Answers What do you consider the key to an effective working relationship between the governor's office and legislative leaders? To what extent is this relationship effective now and to whatever extent it may not be effective, what would you do to improve it?Governor is a separate office from the General Assembly, and the governor may have positions different from members or leaders of the Legislature. Those of us who have experience in government and politics realize that you can resolve differences through negotiation, but everyone must negotiate in good faith. If you are sitting across the table from the House speaker trying to reach agreement in the morning, then demonizing him in the press and in paid advertising in the afternoon, you should not be surprised when you find it difficult to settle anything. I think the problems we have seen during the Rauner Administration are caused partly by having a governor with no experience in government or politics, and partly by his desire to deliberately inflame his relationship with a particular legislative leader so he could point a finger at him. I, on the other hand, have experience in government (and in collective bargaining), and I am not interested in antagonizing the leaders to try to make political gains. Nor am I overly influenced by the Chicago Tribune and their anti-Madigan crusade. I've known the speaker for many years. We disagree at times, but we are not enemies.On budgeting, what should be done to ensure that the state does not again go through a period of time without a budget in place? What will you do as governor to ensure that the spending priorities you espouse during your campaign are reflected in the budget?The governor must submit a manageable budget, so lawmakers can see your financial plan. This is part of responsible governing. Legislative leaders may not agree with your proposal, but 3_ months is enough time for budgeteers to haggle out all but the most contentious issues, which then, in the Springfield tradition, would be settled at the last moment by the governor and legislative leaders. The budget need not be balanced, even though it is a constitutional requirement. We haven't had a balanced budget in decades. I am not going to engage in the publicity stunt of banging the desk and demanding a balanced budget. If we have a budget that improves the state's financial condition and sets us on an irreversible course to addressing our problems, I will sign it. I will not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. My priority is the evidence-based education funding system (Manar). It will cost the state an additional $6 billion. We will not get there in one year, but we have to aim. If we make education funding the No. 3 priority behind debt service and pension payments, we'll be on the way. At this time, no matter what anyone in Springfield says, education is not a priority. It's down the list, funded with whatever's left after other needs and wants are satisfied.How important do you consider the issues of term limits and legislative redistricting? Would you act to promote or oppose either of these initiatives?I support term limits of two terms for statewide elected officials, and 10 years in a leadership position in the General Assembly. I am not for term limits on how long an individual may serve in the General Assembly. Legislative redistricting is more complicated than 250 words will allow, but: -- I want the outcome of elections to represent the will of the people -- I oppose gerrymandering for the purpose of protecting incumbents -- I support banning consideration of where incumbents live and how districts were drawn in the last decade from the redistricting process.To what extent are you happy or unhappy with the evidence-based model for education funding now in place in Illinois? How would you define Ãâ#128;™adequateÃâ#128;œ state funding for Illinois schools and what will you do to promote that?The new formula provides funding that is adequate, in my opinion. Everyone in education recognizes that children from low-income households are more expensive to educate than are children from better-off households, and that some school districts have more property value than others. Often there is an inverse correlation with property value and low-income households. I am unhappy that we have nowhere near the revenue to fund this formula. We're $6 billion short. It's unclear how to partially fund the formula. Do we give all districts 90 percent of their allocation? Or do we start at the bottom and try to fund the neediest districts first?What will you do to fix the public employee pension systems?We didn't get into this pension chasm in one year, and we won't get out in one year. Illinois enacted a law that took effect with new members of the state pension systems in 2011. It raised the retirement age, required greater contributions from employees, capped the level of income that is pensionable at $100,000 (indexed for inflation) and, in the case of Downstate and suburban teachers, pushed the vesting threshold from five years to 10. Whether or not we consider these policies fair, they are now the law, and they will reduce pension costs over time. However, we have many teachers and state employees who started work before 2011 who are retired now or who will retire over the next several decades. We are on the hook for what we promised them until they are deceased. There is no way to shirk this obligation, nor should there be. We simply have to make our actuarially-required pension payments every year Ãcirc;#144; a responsibility we abdicated many times in the past, which created this problem. As these so-called Tier I employees push through and eventually dwindle, our costs will diminish. As governor, I will make sure any legislation affecting pensions is fiscally sound and does not raise our costs.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?- Minimum wage Ãcirc;#144; We must have a living wage - Progressive income tax - Expanding community health care to individuals who have no other access to health care. It'll save us thousands of dollars in Medicaid costs by keeping them out of the emergency room.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John Bel Edwards, governor of LouisianaWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Don't quitIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Politics - I would have run for office soonerWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Shop - It provided me with a strong technical background. I can fix anything, including the state budget.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Work hard