Margaret DeLaRosa: 2026 candidate for Illinois Senate House District 42

Bio

Office sought: Illinois House District 42

City: Glen Ellyn

Age: 64

Occupation: Legislator

Previous offices held: Member- Board of Education -Glenbard District 87

Q&A

Are you comfortable with the way the state budget is developed? If not, what should be done differently?

I believe in investing in what matters most to families in a fiscally responsible way. That's what I've delivered for a decade in our schools, and that's what I'm doing in Springfield.

There's always room for improvement in the budget process. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, years of corporate management experience, and a decade on the Glenbard D87 School Board, including three years as Board President. Managing over $170 million annually, Glenbard maintained balanced budgets and won awards for our strong financial stewardship.

Transparency builds trust, reliable data drives better decisions, and long-term sustainability matters. When Glenbard taxpayers were asked to approve major investments, they were given clear information as well as time to review the details and ask questions. Our state budgeting process should offer that same standard of openness.

Supporting priorities such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure investments require fiscal discipline. I have learned sound planning prevents budget crises and ensures that investments are responsible and lasting. I bring proven experience in fiscal management and accountability to serve Illinois taxpayers.

Do you favor any tax increases or revenue enhancements to address fiscal problems?

I believe in fair taxation that protects working families, small businesses, and homeowners. Illinois relies too heavily on property taxes to fund education, putting enormous pressure on homeowners and retirees. I'm open to responsibly restructuring our tax system so it's more balanced and tied to ability to pay, but only if it delivers real property tax relief, stabilizes education funding, and doesn't hit middle-class families harder.

I support closing corporate tax loopholes and higher gambling, tobacco and vaping taxes. This is both good revenue policy and good public health policy.

What I will insist on is honest accounting, reliable revenue forecasts, and transparency. These are the same standards I've applied while managing a $170 million school district budget for a decade. Every dollar we raise must be spent wisely on excellent schools, healthcare, and services that help families thrive. That's fiscal responsibility in service of our shared progressive values.

Do you favor any changes in the pension structure for state employees?

We can’t ignore the reality that Illinois’ pension obligations are a serious, long-standing challenge and they place real pressure on our state budget, affecting everything from education funding to property taxes. The status quo isn't working. At the same time, the benefits earned by current employees and retirees are protected by law, and I do not support cutting or weakening those pensions. Teachers, police officers, and other public servants earned these benefits, and the state has a responsibility to keep its word.

The 2011 changes that created the Tier 2 system also created unexpected problems. I support fixing the Tier 2 system to ensure compliance with federal law, provide retirement security for educators, and help us recruit and retain the excellent teachers our students deserve. The changes we need must be carefully designed with input from educators, their unions, pension experts and fiscal analysts.

The core problem is decades of underfunding. My focus is on stabilizing the system through responsible funding, economic growth, and disciplined budgeting so we can meet our obligations without shortchanging education or other essential services.

What should Illinois policy be toward immigration and federal efforts to enforce immigration laws?

What we are seeing today from federal immigration authorities is not about law enforcement or public safety. Rather, it’s about fear and intimidation, and it’s damaging our communities. Aggressive and indiscriminate ICE tactics have gone far beyond targeted enforcement and have crossed into racial profiling and collective punishment. This is wrong, and Illinois and local authorities should refuse to be complicit in it. When people are afraid to call the police, take their children to school, or seek medical care, communities become less safe. Local law enforcement has been clear about this for years. Trust is essential, and federal overreach destroys it.

Of course, Illinois and local authorities should cooperate when there is serious criminal activity, but we should refuse to participate in targeting people because of their race or ethnicity.

As a Latina and as a progressive Democrat, I reject the idea that we must choose between enforcing the law and respecting human dignity. Illinois can and should take a clear stand against discriminatory federal practices while focusing local resources on community safety, fairness, and stability.

Ethics reform has long been promised in Illinois with little action. What would you do to change that?

The people that I represent expect improvement in the current ethics reform, as I do. My constituents care about the way I do my job as their representative. The 2021 ethics reform act started a process that needs review and a broader view of opportunities to improve the current law.

Any recommendation to improve current elements in the law must build trust in the legislative process with the people of Illinois. Some examples are: increase the waiting period before staff and members of the General Assembly can become lobbyists. Increasing the authority of the inspector general to publish findings of investigations after a reasonable and specific period of time is another way to enhance the current law. Any vacancy in the Inspector General position may be streamlined to appoint a permanent individual to avoid missing deadlines for active investigations and decrease the use of ‘acting’ appointments.

I support giving the IG office the tools and independence they need to do their jobs as the public trust in government continues to fray. We all know that public trust is foundational to everything else we're trying to accomplish.