Heather Brown: 2022 candidate for Illinois Senate District 25
Bio
Party: Republican
Office sought: llinois Senate District 25
City: West Chicago
Age: 35
Occupation: West Chicago City Alderman
Previous offices held:
Q&A
Q: What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? What is your position on term limits in general and for legislative leaders specifically?
A: I believe term limits should be set the same as presidential limits. No longer than 8 years. People should not be career politicians.
Q: Federal assistance has enabled the state to make important advances toward improving its budget. What will you do to ensure these advances continue when the federal aid is gone?
A: We cannot schedule our budgets around "possible" federal aid. Just as working at city council, we cannot plan our budget around "possible" state funds. We need to make sure we go through our budget and see where we can cut spending. A lot of spending has gone towards grants recently. Unfortunately, grants are tax funded and get dispersed upon all taxpayers within the state. Everyone in the state is struggling with inflation. It is difficult for many families and businesses to survive. But grants are not the answer.
Q: To what extent are you happy or unhappy with the evidence-based model for education funding now in place in Illinois? How would you define "adequate" state funding for Illinois schools and what will you do to promote that?
A: As a homeschooling mother of 2 since 2020, I am very unhappy with the educational funding. Our schools have not been updated other than front offices for the faculty and we still do not have air conditioning for elementary schools.
Our grades have a 10% ESL and Math grade from 2021-2022 school years. I believe holding funding from schools that do not teach the current bill SB818 is a deep concern. Parents had spoken and it should be an option made by the parents.
To take it even further, I would get rid of this bill all together as every school had to spend $55k on training each faculty member. This money could have gone toward better education for faculty staff members to help them assist children in improving their test scores. Extra tutors for special subjects. Our children need all the help they can get going forward in our common curriculum.
Q: Do you believe elections in Illinois are free and fair? What changes, if any, are needed regarding election security and voter access?
A: Vote by mail really came into play due to the pandemic. Now it has still been offered just as often. Our roles have not been cleaned for several years.
Our clerk's office needs to implement a system as people move out of their homes to remove their "permanent vote-by-mail" option. In the State of Illinois our laws require employers mandatory 2 hours paid time to vote. Elections should be closed on Election Day and only open on Election Day unless someone shows proof of disability or illness. Measures were put in place during the pandemic that can still be used by those concerned. But I believe votes should be placed on Election Day only.
Q: How well has Illinois responded to Supreme Court indications that it considers abortion, gay marriage and other social issues to be state, not federal, responsibilities? What if anything needs to be done in these areas and what would you do to make your vision come to pass?
A: Illinois has not taken any action with Supreme Court rulings. As a state Senator I would like to see other facilities that help low income or people without insurance get the same treatment under the original outline Title X was created. As of right now it mainly goes to one institution throughout our state.