Candidates in the 49th discuss cashless bail, gun safety

Public safety is a key issue in the 49th House District race pitting Democratic incumbent Maura Hirschauer against Republican challenger Hannah Billingsley.

On the issue of cashless bail, Hirschauer, a two-time incumbent from Batavia, said the Pretrial Fairness Act is working as intended.

“We are keeping violent offenders off the streets and we are working toward a more just criminal justice system,” she said.

She works with teams from the Kane County and DuPage County state’s attorney’s offices to make sure their concerns are heard in Springfield.

“I think their voices were heard,” she said.

She said community safety is important to her, noting she has delivered on budgets directing millions of dollars in funding for new equipment and new crime-solving resources.

Billingsley of West Chicago, who currently serves on the city’s plan commission and zoning board of appeals, said she has listened to the concerns of DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and local police chiefs.

“I think it was created in a compassionate, equitable way,” she said, but noted, “it’s been problematic. It’s created more paperwork. It puts some violent offenders back on the street. The community doesn’t feel very safe.”

She said there might be a better approach than cashless bail, adding she is not afraid of trying new approaches.

On the issue of gun safety, Hirschauer said, if reelected, “I will deliver on a comprehensive safe firearm storage law that will make critical changes and keep our communities safe.”

She also vowed to pass Karina’s Bill, which is designed to protect victims of domestic violence. It would require a firearm to be removed from a home under order of protection in a domestic violence case.

Billingsley said she supports responsible gun ownership — including comprehensive background checks, promoting safe storage practices and ensuring gun owners are well-informed and educated about the responsibilities of firearm ownership.

She also supports a ban on 3D-printed firearms, or “ghost guns.”