Karina Villa: 2024 candidate for Illinois Senate District 25

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Illinois Senate District 25

City: West Chicago

Age: 46

Occupation: State Senator

Previous offices held: State Representative 2018-20, State Senator 2020 to present

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

We have been hard at work coordinating with local governments and immigration advocacy groups to handle this unprecedented situation. The General Assembly has allocated resources to assist with logistics and operations. These resources have been distributed to welcome centers to aid case management, translation services, assistance applying for work authorizations, secure housing, and more.

We are doing what we can to navigate and manage this situation, but the federal government has to step up with additional support in the short term.

Long term, we need to continue pressing the federal government to deliver thoughtful and serious immigration reform. I recently sponsored a resolution calling on the federal government to grant work permits to long-term undocumented workers in Illinois.

Allowing undocumented individuals the opportunity to legally enter our workforce with proper authorizations will help address our labor shortage and allow them to continue to contribute to our tax base.

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?

Ensuring elected officials are held to the highest possible standard is necessary for maintaining trust with our constituents. I was proud to support legislation that prohibits state legislators working as lobbyists with municipal governments, cracks down on shadow lobbying, empowers the inspector general to undertake investigations without granting approval from the legislative assembly, and puts an end to the revolving door of legislators leaving office to become lobbyists.

I still believe we need to do more and that is why I support legislative term limits on those in leadership, because no one person should be in power forever.

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

I would support this measure.

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

The Illinois General Assembly has taken steps to address long standing issues in regard to fairness and equitable treatment. We passed the Pretrial Fairness Act, which ended cash bail in Illinois.

Prior to this law being implemented, we had a system that prioritized wealth opposed to the risk someone presented to society. Judges now weigh petitions from prosecutors to determine the risk an individual poses prior to their trial and not their income.

Additionally, we made investments in officer training, mental health, set standards on use of force, and now require the use of body-worn cameras by police departments to ensure accountability.

We also took steps to decrease recidivism in Illinois by investing in job training, education, and modernizing the parole process to ensure those previously incarcerated are uplifted and set up for success.

As state senator, I will continue to support public safety efforts that are equitable, fair, and keep Illinoisans safe.

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?

Gun violence is a public health crisis and the leading cause of death for children in the United States and to truly solve this issue we need a federal response so every state is playing by the same rules. I supported the ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines because I do not believe weapons of war should be sold, but we know there is more work to be done.

We’ve made great progress regulating ghost guns, requiring serialized ammunition be sold, expanding education campaigns around red flag laws, and holding gun manufacturers accountable.

However, we need to do better to protect victims of domestic violence. Passing Karina’s law, which gives police the authority to remove firearms from a person who has been served with a domestic violence order of protection is a step in the right direction.

I will continue to work with colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly to ensure Illinois is doing their part to keep our citizens safe and call upon the federal government to do more.

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

I support legislation that would end this practice.

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

Before I served as a legislative representative in the Illinois General Assembly, I was a social worker in the public school system. I loved being a social worker and it had its hosts of challenges but it taught me patience, collaboration, and the ability to listen.

These skills are integral for success when working with fellow members of the Illinois General Assembly, who come from different backgrounds and parts of our state to solve problems and deliver results.

I'm proud of the work we’ve accomplished in the legislature that includes improved healthcare access and quality; enhanced early childhood education funding as well as improved access to high paying vocational training opportunities; addressed inequalities in our criminal justice system while also holding elected officials to a higher standard with robust ethics reform.

We have more challenges ahead but I hope to earn the opportunity to continue serving my home as state senator.