Eddie Corrigan: Candidate profile

Bio:

Name: Eddie Corrigan

City: Arlington Heights

Website: citizensforcorrigan.com

Facebook: Eddie Corrigan

Party: Republican

Office sought: State representative, 53rd District

Age: 29

Family: I come from a large Irish family. I am one of 48 first cousins, most of whom still live in the suburbs. I have three siblings, my father's name is Michael. My mother, Sheila, passed away from ovarian cancer when I was just 9 years old.

Occupation: Outreach coordinator, U.S. House of Representatives Illinois' 6th District.

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame

Civic involvement: Cancer research and awareness advocate; have helped raise over $10,000 for cancer causes.

Elected offices held: None.

Questions & Answers

Q. Would you vote to approve a graduated income tax? If so, what qualifiers would you impose and where would you set the brackets? What would the top tax rate be?

I do not support a graduated income tax. A handful of bills and constitutional amendments to move to a graduated income tax have been introduced in the General Assembly in the past and while proponents of the progressive tax rate laud that these bills will result in a tax cut for thousands of Illinois families, the truth is they will ultimately hurt the pockets of thousands of Illinois families.

Q. How big a problem is the level of property taxation in Illinois? If you view it as a problem, what should be done about it?

Property taxes in Illinois are a huge problem. We currently have the second highest property taxes in the nation. I think the first thing that we must do is implement a property tax freeze. While this may not address the high cost of property taxes right away, it will send a signal to homeowners that we are serious about providing real property tax relief. Upon implementing a freeze, the General Assembly shall provide units of local government and school districts will mandate relief so they can govern more efficiently at the local level based on their own needs and resources. Finally, Illinois must step up to the plate and meet its obligation when it comes to providing funding to our schools. The General Assembly and the governor took a big step in this regard with the passage of school funding reform in 2017, but they must keep their commitment to provide adequate funding to the system in the coming years to ensure that we can lower property taxes.

Q. What is your evaluation of Gov. Rauner's job performance? Please specify what you view as its highs and lows.

Gov. Rauner has had a difficult time governing due to the constant manipulation and unwillingness to work together by Speaker Madigan. Governor Rauner has made job creation, limited government, and tax relief his priority but has repeatedly been stymied by Speaker Madigan's power. With that being said, I believe Governor Rauner could have come into office more willing to work with the majority on a number of issues, including pension and workers' compensation reform, but failed to do so, which led in part to the yearslong budget impasse.

Q. What is your evaluation of Speaker Michael Madigan's job performance?

I believe Speaker Madigan has been in power for far too long. His policies have led to the second highest property taxes in the nation, the second worst unfunded pension system in the nation, multiple tax increases, and a ballooning deficit. I believe it is time for the Democratic Party to elect a new leader who will adopt bipartisan solutions to create jobs, lower taxes, and reign in spending.

Q. Should there be term limits for legislative leaders? If so, what would you do to make that happen? What other systemic changes should be made to strengthen the voice of individual legislators, limit the control of legislative leaders, encourage bipartisanship?

For years, Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton have used their positions of power to line their donor's pockets on the backs of working class families. Illinois needs to impose term limits on leadership positions in both chambers.

I believe there is strong bipartisan agreement that we should impose term limits on leadership positions. Therefore, I would work across the aisle with my colleagues to convince them to persuade their legislative leaders to put a legislative leader term limit policy to vote. As a new legislator, I would try to form coalitions and relationships with other new members of the General Assembly, on both sides of the aisle, to encourage legislative leaders to give a strong voice to newer members and to encourage bipartisanship across the General Assembly and the Governor's Office.

Q. How concerned should we be about Illinois' population loss? What needs to be done to reverse the trend?

We should be very concerned about the rapid population loss that is occurring in Illinois. According to the 2017 National Movers Study by United Van Airlines, Illinois is now the number one state for residents fleeing.

This is disappointing as Illinois offers so much in the form of what a great state could be, including a transportation hub, a tourism hub, and a highly-skilled workforce. Unfortunately, politicians have ignored fleeing Illinoisans for too long.

High taxes are the number one reason for the mass exodus out of Illinois. We have some of the highest property taxes in the country. Homeowners can simply no longer afford to live in their own homes. On top of that, the General Assembly recently hiked income taxes by 32 percent.

We must create an environment where small business can flourish and where Illinois families can afford their homes. The General Assembly needs to cut onerous job-killing regulations and implement a property tax freeze if we want to keep up with our neighbors across the Midwest. Finally, we cannot afford to implement a graduated income tax which will only exacerbate the number of families and businesses fleeing Illinois. As state representative, I will focus my attention on legislation that will keep our families and small businesses in Illinois.

Q. Please provide one example that demonstrates your independence from your party.

I support increasing the use of medical marijuana. As someone who is concerned about the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, I believe that medical marijuana can serve as an acceptable substitute to prescription opioids.

Q. What other issues are important to you as a candidate for this office?

In addition to tax relief and job growth, another important issue to me during this campaign is ethical governance and good government reform. For far too long, politicians have enacted policies aimed at building their campaign war chests and in turn, to keep their job. I believe we must enact redistricting reform in the form of the Fair Maps proposal so that we can take legislative map-drawing out of the hands of politicians. This will allow voters to pick their representatives; not the other way around.

In addition, here a few questions meant to provide more personal insight into you as a person:

Q. What's the hardest decision you ever had to make?

The hardest decision I have ever had to make was to decide to run for state representative to serve my community. It is never easy to see the negative mailers, ugly television commercials, and hateful rhetoric aimed toward my family and I, but nevertheless, I believe that turning this state around is of utmost importance and I am willing to do my part to make Illinois a better place to live.

Q. Who is your hero?

My dad. When I was 9 years old, my mom passed away from ovarian cancer leaving my dad to raise me and my three siblings, all under 11 years old. My dad continued operating his small business, an insurance agency, while raising us and providing us with a great childhood. During these hard times, he instilled in me the drive to work hard and to overcome difficulties in an effort to move forward.

Q. Each amendment in the Bill of Rights is important, but which one of those 10 is most precious to you?

While I believe all of the Bill of Rights are important, I believe the First Amendment is the most important.

Q. What lesson of youth has been most important to you as an adult?

Before my mother passed away from ovarian cancer she impressed upon me the importance to always put myself in other people's shoes. This lesson is an important concept in politics to understand where others are coming from and what has shaped their opinions and beliefs.

Q. Think back to a time you failed at something. What did you learn from it?

I remember right out of college, I applied for a great job in Chicago. I made it through a couple interview rounds and felt like I was going to get the job. After my last round of interviews, I received a voicemail telling me they were going to go in another direction. I was devastated. I thought my friends and family would think differently of me because I didn't get the job. However, I learned that no matter what happens in life the people who love and care about you will always support you.