Daniel Didech: 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: Buffalo GroveWebsite: www.danieldidech.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: www.facebook.com/DidechForRepOffice sought: 59th District Representative Age: 30Family: Jen Didech (wife), 6th grade math teacher at Twin Groves Middle School. Captain Hook (dog).Occupation: Municipal AttorneyEducation: Adlai E. Stevenson High School -- graduate Roosevelt University -- Bachelor of Arts, History Valparaiso University -- Law DegreeCivic involvement: Jewish Child Family Services, advocate for children with special needs and their families Cabrini Green Tutoring Program, volunteer tutor.Elected offices held: Vernon Township SupervisorQuestions 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 for legislative leaders specifically?Lawmakers need to do a better job of listening to their constituents. That is why I have been walking door-to-door, asking residents about the changes they wish to see made in Springfield. The budget crisis damaged critical human services, hurt our higher education system and limited economic growth. We cannot allow our most vulnerable neighbors to be used as leverage by extreme politicians to enact an anti-middle-class agenda. I will interview each candidate for legislative leader and I will vote for the individual who will best help me fight for my district and our progressive values. Specifically, I will support the candidate who is committed to providing real property tax relief to my constituents, protecting all women's right to choose, and enacting commonsense gun laws that will keep our community safe. Under no circumstances will I support a candidate who refuses to stand up to Donald Trump's dangerous agenda that would make healthcare more expensive, raise taxes on middle-class families, and divide our community. I would not support any proposal that would prevent our neighbors from continuing to elect representatives who share our values, such as Rep. Carol Sente and Rep. Brad Schneider. I was hopeful that Carol Sente would continue to serve in the legislature, and I am grateful that she is supporting my campaign. As state representative, I look forward to continuing her impressive legacy of fighting for property tax relief, our neighborhood's schools, small businesses, and a fiscally responsible budgetary process.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 a legislator to help ensure that the spending priorities you espouse during your campaign are reflected in the budget?It is unacceptable to use vital services, such as breast cancer screenings and services for children with autism, as bargaining chips in the budgetary process. I will work with my colleagues from both parties in a thoughtful and deliberative manner to cut wasteful and unnecessary programs in the budget, without threatening programs that our at-risk neighbors rely upon. With Donald Trump threatening to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and other services that the women in our state rely upon, one of my top priorities will be to support funding for women's healthcare programs and other critical services, such as childcare and domestic violence shelters. The state's budget crisis is one of the reasons why our community has been faced with out-of-control property taxes. If our schools and local governments cannot count on the state to be a reliable partner, they are forced to raise property taxes to ensure that education and local services are adequately funded. Property tax relief will be one of my top priorities in Springfield, which is why I support enacting a property tax freeze and increasing exemptions for seniors, veterans and middle-class homeowners. As Vernon Township Supervisor, I cut the township's property tax by over 5% while at the same time increasing the services provided to our community. I did this by identifying alternative sources of revenue and cutting wasteful and unnecessary administrative expenses. The state and other local governments should follow the same approach to responsibly manage taxpayer money.Should the legislature approve ballot initiatives either for a constitutional amendment on legislative redistricting or one on term limits? If so, how would you recommend the issues be structure? If not, why not?I support independent maps. Partisan politicians should not be responsible for redistricting where they can tip the scales to keep an entrenched party in power. Voters should be empowered to choose their elected officials, not the other way around. This is a problem not only in Illinois but throughout the country. Not only do I support a constitutional amendment that would create an independent redistricting commission in Illinois, but I support amending the U.S. Constitution to end partisan gerrymandering across the country. We have to take power away from the career politicians and put it back in the hands of the voters where it belongs.What approach do you support in fixing public employee pension systems?Illinois must keep its promises to workers and reliably make payments into its pension funds. Irresponsibly skipping payments and failing to meet the promises that had been made to teachers, law enforcement and other workers who have dedicated decades of service to the people of this state has put the state further into debt which damages our ability to invest in our future. I would only consider supporting reforms that make fiscal sense for our state and that fairly treat middle-class workers. Any changes to the pension systems must be made with all stakeholders at the table, including organized labor and the organizations that represent middle-class families who pay into the system.To what extent do you support or oppose legalization of marijuana for recreational use?I would only consider supporting legislation that incorporates the expert advice of law enforcement, educators, and medical personnel. We should look into regulating, legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana, but I would not support any measures that would potentially put children and families at risk by causing an increase in impaired driving or making it easier for teenagers to acquire mind-altering drugs.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?1) Women's Rights. I believe that personal medical decisions should be made between women and their doctors, and I will fight to fully fund Planned Parenthood and protect women's right to choose. I will also fight for a budget that fully and reliably funds domestic violence shelters and other trauma informed support services. Illinois must invest in programs that will prioritize screening, detection and healing for children and families experiencing domestic violence. I will encourage the governor to select women for at least half of the state's appointed positions and I will be a vocal advocate for women's equality in the workplace. We should strengthen Illinois's Equal Pay Act and enact tougher measures to keep workplaces free from harassment and discrimination. 2) Gun Safety. We should enact commonsense reforms such as banning military-style assault rifles and "bump-stock" modifications like those used by the Las Vegas shooter that allowed the shooter to fire hundreds of bullets per minute. I also support proposals which would require all gun dealers in Illinois to be licensed by the state. Gun dealers must be held to responsible standards, such as ensuring they are conducting all necessary background checks, keeping their stores secure and stopping straw purchasers. 3) Healthcare. With Donald Trump committed to rolling back the healthcare protections that our community relies upon, I support efforts that will ensure Illinois residents cannot be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition or be dropped from coverage when your care becomes too expensive.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Buzz Aldrin, because he is a living testament that impossible-seeming goals can be accomplished with hard work and determination.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?You are responsible for your own successes and failures. Always work hard, be prepared, and don't make excuses.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have spent more time visiting and talking with my grandfathers, who we lost when I was young.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science, because I enjoyed hands-on experiments and learning how our world works. It taught me to think critically and to work as a team.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Do what you love and success will follow. Live up to your own expectations, not other people's expectations for you.