Kelly Mazeski: 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: BarringtonWebsite: www.kellymazeski.comTwitter: @KellyMazeskiFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellymazeskiforcongress/Office sought: 6th District U.S. Representative Age: 58Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: B.S. in Biology, Minors in Chemistry and Business from Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, INCivic involvement: I have served 18 years in my local government as a Village Trustee, Zoning Commissioner, and Plan Commissioner. My experience in each of these positions has taught me the importance of listening to the concerns of my constituents so I can work in their best interest when voting on local matters. I will take this same approach with me to Washington so I can best represent the constituents of the 6th District.Elected offices held: I have served in local government for 18 years as a Village Trustee for North Barrington, Vice-Chairman and Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for North Barrington, and currently as Plan Commissioner for Barrington Hills.Questions Answers What do you think is the government's responsibility in assuring that citizens have health care? To what extent does the Affordable Care Act address this responsibility? What, if any, changes are needed in the act.I announced my campaign on the same day Peter Roskam voted to make Americans pay more and get less for our healthcare. The federal government has a responsibility to the American people to ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. The ACA made progress towards accomplishing this by expanding coverage for millions of Americans and ensuring healthcare providers can no longer deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or charge women more simply because they are women. The ACA is far from perfect. We need to find a solution to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs and incentivize the healthcare system to provide quality care over quantity. I support a public option, which would compete side by side with private insurance companies on the healthcare exchange. This would drive down costs and improve the quality of plans offered on the exchange. The CBO conducted a study that concluded a public option would save taxpayers $158 billion over ten years and extend coverage to millions who remain uninsured. The government should be able to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. Finally, Congress should continue to push for value-based delivery system reforms to ensure that hospitals and doctors are paid based on the quality of care they provide, not the number of procedures or services they administer. These reforms would help the government uphold its responsibility to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Americans.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? What, if any, responsibility does the government have toward immigrants referred to as Dreamers who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are now adults? How will these policies affect your district?I believe that we need to reform our outdated immigration system and pass bipartisan immigration legislation. Since the time of our founding fathers, the United States has been a nation of immigrants where people come here because America represents the beacon hope and opportunity. We need to pass immigration reform that will treat law-abiding undocumented immigrants fairly, introduce them into our formal economy, and protects our borders. Additionally, President Trump's actions with DACA has threatened hardworking young people in America who, through no fault of their own, were brought here as children by their parents. 2,700 DACA-recipients live in the Illinois 6th Congressional District and stand to be impacted by Trump's harmful actions which is why it is imperative we protect them. Americans overwhelmingly support passing the DREAM Act, and it is time for Congress to listen to the American people and pass the DREAM Act to provide DREAMers with legal status in our country.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances should we have military forces actively operating?The Iraq War taught us that long-term nation building in countries where we have minimal knowledge of the historical, religious, and ethnic dynamics at play, can be unrealistic and, in certain cases, counterproductive. However, in cases of humanitarian crises or where America's national security is at stake, I support the use of military force to accomplish limited and clearly defined objectives. For example, in order to combat the threat of ISIS, I believe the United States must engage militarily with a coalition of regional partners to drive ISIS out of the region and thwart their ability to recruit supporters and plan future terrorist attacks. Throughout the Middle East and around the world, I believe that we can best promote peace, stability and American values by engaging diplomatically on governmental, organizational, and individual levels. Instead of improving America's standing in the world, the Trump Administration is withdrawing us from the world stage and gutting the State Department. This weakens American interests abroad and is a huge step in the wrong direction. America's ability as a country to promote peace and stability abroad rests first and foremost on its capacity to build strong relationships with our allies and as a leader on the global stage. However, this has become more difficult with a President who has, through hateful rhetoric and policy, managed to isolate a number of our allies around the world. Countries around the globe should look to the United States as a place of hope, prosperity, and human decency.What should the United States be doing to reduce the threat of potential nuclear conflict from North Korea?The United States, Japan, South Korea, and China should continue to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on the North Korean regime to ensure that the region remains stable. President Trump's provocative tweets and inconsistent comments on North Korea, including his personal attacks of Kim Jong Un, play perfectly into Pyongyang's narrative of being under constant threat of annihilation from the United States. However, military force by the United States should be an absolute last resort option. My priority will always be to protect our citizens and avoid plunging the world into an unnecessary war.How would you describe the effectiveness of Congress today? If you think Congress needs to be more effective, what would you do to promote that?When I travel around meeting people throughout the 6th district, it is hard to find anyone who thinks Congress has been an effective branch of our federal government. The hyper-partisanship and the overbearing influence of special interest groups, ultra-rich donors, and big corporations within Congress have left many of us feeling like our elected officials aren't really there to represent the majority of us. I certainly don't feel like Peter Roskam had the interest of his district in mind when he voted on a party-line to strip healthcare away from millions of Americans that would force us to pay more and get less for our healthcare. If I am fortunate enough to represent the people of the Illinois 6th Congressional District in Washington, I will vote first and foremost on the impact legislation will have on the people of this district and whether the majority of them support it. This is a mindset I think more members of Congress should take to heart regarding their own districts. I also support a more transparent and equitable campaign finance system. A system that ensures the voices of everyday voters are heard just as loudly as those of corporations and wealthy donors would better align the incentives of elected officials with the actual interests of their constituents.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As a lifelong environmentalist, I strongly believe the United States should be a leader within the international community in combating climate change and investing in renewable energy development. We have a real opportunity with creating a renewable energy future in America. As one of the fastest growing job sectors, investing in renewable energy will create jobs nationwide and within our district while also reducing our carbon footprint. I also believe we need to ensure that economic growth reaches all Americans, not just a few at the top. We need to invest in education, from expanding access to preschool to making higher education affordable for all. And we need to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour so that every American can earn a livable wage.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Malala Yousafzai. After being shot by the Taliban for advocating the education of girls, she won the Nobel Prize for her activism and bravery.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?There were many. Value family, be kind to others, find happiness in everyday life and read the newspaper - my parents read two a day.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?After completing breast cancer treatment last year, I don't spend time reviewing the past. The future is what is most important to me now.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Organic Chemistry was my favorite due to professor Dr Feigl. She was extremely motivating, inspiring me to always work to the best of my ability.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be true to yourself and live with integrity.