48th House candidates focusing on taxes, transportation

Improving transportation, attracting business and limiting taxes are all on the priority list of the three Republican candidates seeking their party's nod in the 48th House District primary election.

College of DuPage Trustee Dave Carlin, Naperville Councilman Doug Krause and DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly each say they can be an independent voice in Springfield if chosen to replace retiring state Rep. Jim Meyer.

The three are running in the Feb. 5 primary for a spot on the November ballot. No Democratic candidate has filed to run in the primary.

The district includes portions of Naperville, Lisle, Wheaton, Woodridge and Bolingbrook.

Krause, 60, a real estate broker, said his 19 years of experience on the city council sets him apart in this race and he would be comfortable going across the aisle in Springfield to get things done.

"No one person by themselves can get anything done," he said. "The key is building consensus not only with just your local (officials) but you have to reach further out and I've been doing that."

Connelly, 43, a lawyer and former Lisle village board member, said at the county office he's known as "bubble boy," because he can't be categorized.

"I take each vote as it comes; I'll listen to what the chairman says to me if he calls me on a vote. I'll listen to what others tell me," Connelly said. "But I know how to work through divisive factions to get things accomplished that make life better for our constituents."

Carlin, 32, a consultant with DC Consulting and former executive director of the DuPage Republican Party, said government needs some shaking up and he's the man to do it.

"I see the ineffectiveness," he said. "We have some great leaders down there but … one thing they don't have is the longevity."

When it comes to capital projects for the district, each candidate is quick to say widening Route 59 would be at the top of their list if the state allocates money for such projects. Making sure the STAR Line, a suburban commuter rail line, becomes a reality also makes the cut.

Part of the challenge is that the EJ&E tracks where the line originally was to be built has been bought by Canadian National, which plans to use the tracks for its freight trains.

Krause said he also wants to ensure that cities affected by the additional freight traffic have more routes over or under the tracks to ease vehicular congestion.

"It's going to create gridlock here and impact the economy … as far as cars just sitting there, motors running, people not getting where they need to go," Krause said.

The three also are in agreement in their dislike of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's health-care expansion plan and said the state needs to look at public/private partnerships.

"It's one of those if we could do all things for all people and had an unlimited source of funds we could do such a thing," Connelly said. "I think we need to look to private industry and others."

Gambling is another big issue for the state. Carlin said he doesn't like government's dependence on gambling and doesn't believe it is a smart revenue source, but he would be OK with the state's 10th casino license being used as long as it is regulated by the state.

"Residents of my district would rather see a casino in downstate Illinois or some other community than see their income taxes go up, their property taxes go up or to see a tax on the service sector, which would have (an) extremely negative effect on small businesses," Carlin said.

Connelly said he would support some expansion. He said he doesn't have a problem with issuing the state's 10th casino license, which is currently unused, but he would vote against Chicago running its own casino.

Krause would support additional casinos owned by the city and state but run by independent operators. He said adding slot machines at horse racing tracks also would likely have to be part of the plan in order for it to pass.

One source of income they all oppose is tax increases for both individuals and businesses.

Krause said the state needs to stop adding new programs on the backs of taxpayers.

"(State) income, if you look at it, is actually going up but they keep adding new programs and siphoning off the money into those new programs," he said. "And you say, well wait a minute, we need to match our revenues with our expenses."

Connelly says he'd rather cut state spending and follow a "zero-growth budget."

"I can't sit here today and say I'm going to cut this, this, this and this, but I have done it in the past," he said.

Carlin said he is against raising taxes unless local governments ask taxpayers for permission through a referendum question.

"I don't like taxes at all, but if people are willing to pay a little more to have a certain service provided or make sure public safety is properly funded, that's the best way to do it," he said.

While funding education is a priority to all of them, they differ somewhat in how to do so. Connelly said his property tax bill is too high but at least he knows the money is staying with local schools.

Carlin and Krause both suggest consolidating school districts to save money.