Ronald Andermann: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 53
Bio
Party: Republican
Office Sought: Illinois House District 53
City: Arlington Heights
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired, but do some part time IP legal work.
Previous offices held: Various organizational positions. No public office.
How should the state respond to the influx of migrants bussed here from Southern states?
Legal immigration to the United States has been at an all-time high. Migration is an age-old problem, and looking to history, migration burdens the poor, and thus over a long history, immigration laws were established. States should abide by established laws and respect over time the vast numbers of immigrants these laws serve to become citizens.
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?
No. Many legislators are lawyers, as is the governor, which requires being held to higher ethical standards. Yet, legislators surreptitiously passed an unconstitutional election interference law, and the governor called it an “ethics bill.” Later news reports noted legislators glibly shrugged off limiting voter choice as just a business as usual “dirty tricks.” No wonder there is an ethics crisis.
Lawyer legislators are bound by legal ethics rules. How such rules have impact depend on the legal criteria that applies, like beyond a reasonable doubt or just an appearance and so forth. Maybe an “odor of mendacity” criteria is worth considering.
Consider unimpaired judgment. Legislators are responsible for huge legal and financial decisions that literally require making life and death decisions. As for corporate and government jobs, people with such responsibility must do so with unimpaired judgment and pass mandatory drug testing. Something worth considering.
Would you support a requirement that election petitions include a line asking candidates for their campaign email address?
No. Just more to discourage candidates from coming forward.
How well do you think criminal justice reforms made in recent years are working? What, if any, changes need to be made?
The metrics are still out on this issue. Using old metrics may not be meaningful. But people generally mention feeling less safe. For example, individuals have expressed fear of just getting gasoline at the local service station in the evening hours. Frequently, fear of crime in once favorite big city locations is also brought up. Regretfully, such laws may need to be revisited.
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?
I support the Second Amendment and the United States Supreme Court decisions. Yet, the handgun murder rate in Chicago should appall Illinoisans. I graduated from a suburban high school that had a rifle range and a gun club. Respectful and safe use of firearms was taught.
Since I do not see firearms going away, maybe some real education would help (regrettably since schools are now in the forefront) particularly since Hollywood continues to glorify gun violence especially with assault weapons.
Illinois is the only state in the nation that mandates regular behind-the-wheel tests for senior drivers. Do you support any changes?
Don’t treat seniors differently from other adult drivers.
What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?
Effective government deals efficiently with complex and expensive legal and technical questions. My qualifications are particularly well suited for such a role.