Linda R. Robertson: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 65

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Illinois House District 65

City: St. Charles Township

Age: 73

Occupation: Semi-retired environmental microbiologist

Previous offices held: St. Charles Township Democratic Precinct Committee Person

How should the state respond to the influx of migrants bussed here from Southern states?

People need to be treated with compassion and dignity. I am concerned how busloads of asylum seekers were dropped in Illinois in winter without proper clothing while Gov. Abbott of Texas retained the federal funds to be used to care for them. This is inexcusable.

Many asylum seekers want safety for their families. If I were a parent whose children were hungry and living in unsafe conditions I can understand taking such risks.

The underlying problem rests at the federal level where immigration reform is badly needed. Illinois should press the federal government to streamline the process to determine eligibility.

We also need to take care of our own citizens who are homeless and marginalized. As the climate becomes more extreme, the entire globe is seeing people migrating North from areas that no longer provide stable living conditions. This is another reason why dealing with climate change is important.

Are you satisfied with the state's existing ethics policies for senators and representatives? If so, what about the policies should reassure Illinoisans that elected leaders abide by high standards? If not, what changes need to be made?

Citizens United was a terrible decision.

In general, Illinoisans favor stronger state ethics reforms. Lawmakers have sidestepped reform despite a string of high-profile public-corruption cases.

We need transparency that includes rigorous financial disclosure requirements for legislators to report income, assets, and conflicts of interest.

It's important to have comprehensive code of conduct outlining expected ethical behavior, with guidelines on lobbying and gifts, with annual ethics standards training for legislators and staff.

Illinois can enhance transparency and accountability. We need to:

• Establish an independent body to oversee ethical conduct and investigate complaints;

• Implement strong protections for whistleblowers reporting unethical behavior;

• Enforce stricter regulations on campaign financing and lobbying to reduce money's influence in politics;

• Encourage citizen participation in the legislative process and reporting unethical behavior.

Would you support a requirement that election petitions include a line asking candidates for their campaign email address?

Why? I'm not necessarily against it, but I don't understand the purpose. Our home addresses are on them.

Candidates usually have a website with a way to reach the candidate.

We use info@votelinda65.com. Quite frankly I fear being deluged by spam given the current political climate if I had to give my direct email address.

How well do you think criminal justice reforms made in recent years are working? What, if any, changes need to be made?

The data has shown increases in crime by certain individuals who cannot be held, based on the crime not being a detainable offense according to the SAFE-T Act. While dangerous individuals charged with certain offenses can no longer bond out of jail, the pre-trial fairness act needs to be amended to significantly expand the detention net to give prosecutors the ability to ask that dangerous offenders be held until trial.

As a legislator I will be committed to work with the state’s attorneys and law enforcement to utilize actual statistics and case examples to the effect. We need to make this law work effectively.

We now have an assault weapons ban in Illinois. What if any changes should be made to the law? What more can be done to improve gun safety?

Prohibiting the sale of assault weapons makes sense. However, we need to clarify which weapons and accessories are covered and what owners are require to report.

We must pass Karina's Bill. This is legislation that would that would protect domestic partners by requiring law enforcement to remove firearms from those with emergency orders of protection filed against them.

The Illinois General Assembly must continue to focus on common-sense gun safety measures such as our Red Flag laws.

We must work to get people to use biometric safes to store their guns and require guns left in cars be secured, since cars are where so many guns used in crime are stolen.

Unfortunately, states surrounding Illinois have lax gun laws. Until there is a federal ban on assault weapons, Illinois citizens will be vulnerable to weapons brought in from out of state.

Illinois is the only state in the nation that mandates regular behind-the-wheel tests for senior drivers. Do you support any changes?

I know several 90-plus-year-olds who are physically and cognitively in better shape than some people in their 60s. Aging is highly variable and mandatory road testing is costly. I am not against stopping the testing per se, but I do think we need a way to keep impaired drivers off the road. I would rely on input from law enforcement officers.

What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?

As a mother and grandparent, I understand the challenges of balancing family and work.

Typical of a scientist, I grew up asking why, listening and learning, relying on data and logic.

I've learned so much by talking to people in the district. Listening to voter's perspectives motivates me. By nature, scientists are independent but value collaboration; we don’t point fingers to just say no.

It's more cost effective to solve problems than letting them go to crisis.

I have a proven record of innovation, thinking outside the box including 12 patents, and experience working around the world. The corporate culture requires ROI. While I socially liberal, I am fiscally pragmatic and want to see a return on the money the state invests in programs. A good example of ROI is funding invested in early childhood education.

While Springfield has lots of lawyers, it has relatively few subject matter experts serving as legislators.

I’m an environmental microbiologist. Send a scientist to Springfield.