Candidates agree Dist. 46 needs jobs, revenue

The sluggish economy and resulting lack of jobs are the biggest issues facing the 46th District, both candidates for the Illinois House seat say.

Republican Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst attorney who was elected to the seat in 2006, said he believes gambling expansion would generate roughly $1 billion in new revenue for Illinois. He supports adding slot machines to race tracks and releasing the state's 10th gambling license for a casino in Rosemont.

"This would capture a lot of tourism dollars and out-of-state dollars and put Chicago back on the map as a top convention destination," Reboletti said. "It would get the economy revving again, at the same time taking care of critical needs."

Democratic challenger Gary Nowak, also of Elmhurst, said he hopes to spark the local economy by attracting small businesses with tax incentives to encourage them to create and retain living-wage jobs. Jobs are especially needed in the manufacturing and technology sectors, he added.

"Small businesses are the driving sector of the economy and, as people are able to support themselves, everything else flows from that," Nowak said. "We are going into a recession. If we were not in that position, it would be great if we could do things about transit, infrastructure, education and health care. Until we grease the wheels of the economy, nothing else is going to work."

The first-time candidate and banker said his experience approving loans for small businesses helped him develop a plan for tax break incentives that would be spaced over time.

"You don't give someone a tax break and two years later, they get rid of the job," Nowak said. "The longer the job is retained, they'll have some measurable increase. If a company moves that job away, particularly out of the country and they're going to keep operations here, they must give that incentive or benefit back."

District 46 includes all or portions of Addison, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Itasca, Lombard, Villa Park and Wood Dale.