Martha ‘Marti’ Deuter: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 45

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Illinois House District 45

City: Elmhurst

Age: 51

Occupation: Nonprofit

Previous offices held: City of Elmhurst Alderman 1st Ward

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

Above all, immigration and border security are federal issues. We need our federal legislators to act on the bipartisan agreement that was negotiated earlier this year. While the flow of migrants being bussed to Illinois from other states has slowed, previously more than 45,000 migrants were bussed to Illinois since 2022.

Responding to the humanitarian crisis of thousands of arriving adults and children put an extraordinary strain on local and state resources to meet the basic needs of these individuals. The burden of these costs should be borne by the federal government.

The state of Illinois should coordinate the tracking of expenses and lead the effort to seek reimbursement. The state also needs to continue to call on federal action to address immigration and border security.

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?

Unfortunately, Illinois has a shameful history of corruption. We need the strongest ethics standards in place to fully regain the public’s trust, and we’re not there yet.

We need to take a close look at the state’s campaign finance laws to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement as needed. By continuing to strengthen the ethics policies that apply to elected officials, we can restore faith in our state government and shift our focus toward issues that affect the everyday lives of our citizens, like lowering the cost of living and growing the economy.

Addressing public corruption is a bipartisan issue, and it will be one of my priorities.

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

Yes.

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

Public safety should be a top priority for every elected official, and it is reassuring to know that recent changes to our criminal justice system are being closely evaluated by the courts, civic watchdog groups, and other stakeholders.

As reported by the Daily Herald in April, fears that criminal suspects would commit more crime or skip court haven’t materialized. Nonetheless, legislators should diligently monitor the data and maintain regular communication with prosecutors, court administrators, police officials, and criminal justice advocates.

We must remain committed to our pursuit of strengthening the system, ensuring greater public safety, and delivering justice for all.

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?

Assault weapons make our families less safe and have no place in our communities. I wholeheartedly support the recent state legislation to ban the sales of military-style assault rifles, extended magazines, and rapid-fire modifications. We need to enact legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of people who are at risk of harm to themselves or others, improve safe storage laws, and invest more in mental health resources.

We also need to provide law enforcement with the support they need to remove or ensure the safe storage of weapons when an owner’s FOID card is rescinded. Gun violence prevention is a key issue for Illinoisans, regardless of party, and I am pleased to be the candidate in this race with the endorsement of Everytown for Gun Safety and the Gun Sense Candidate distinction.

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

Age does not correlate directly with safe or unsafe driving. Senior drivers are more likely to wear seat belts and less likely to be driving under the influence. Data from the Illinois Secretary of State indicate drivers over 75 years old are involved in fewer crashes than most other age groups.

Any legislation passed should be done with the focus of protecting both pedestrians and drivers, and burdensome requirements should have sound justification. The requirement for a behind-the-wheel test for seniors can be evaluated for its impact on safety as evidenced by the data.

We can look to data from other states to determine if the testing requirement makes Illinois safer or if there is justification for a different approach.

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

I am a policymaker with extensive local government experience and a passion for public service. In addition, I’ve worked in research and policy in university, nonprofit, and municipal settings on issues that include economic development, affordable housing, and community reinvestment.

I previously spent eight years directing housing policy for the city of Chicago at the local, state, and federal levels, and I currently work for Bridge Communities, a nonprofit based in Glen Ellyn that provides housing and supportive services for families experiencing homelessness. I have a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Ohio University.

As a policymaker, I believe in gathering input from as many stakeholders as possible — not just people who see an issue the same way I do, but, more importantly, people who see the issue differently. Effective policymaking brings people along and creates sustainable progress, which can be built upon over time.