Lori Smith: 2026 candidate for Illinois House District 54
Bio
Office sought: House District 54
Party: Republican
City: Long Grove
Age: 54
Previous offices held: None
Q&A
What do you consider the three most pressing issues facing the state in the next four years, and how should they be addressed?
The three most pressing issues facing Illinois are affordability, crime, and education.Families are stretched thin by housing, grocery, and energy costs after years of high taxes and unchecked spending. We must audit state spending, eliminate waste, cut unnecessary taxes and regulations, and grow jobs so people can keep more of what they earn.Crime has left too many neighborhoods anxious. Supporting police, enforcing the law, and holding violent offenders accountable will restore the safety families deserve.In schools, too many kids lag in basics while parents feel shut out. Expanding school choice, prioritizing reading and math, and giving parents a real voice will give every child a better shot.These issues hit home. Auditing spending, restoring safety, and putting families first will make Illinois more affordable, secure, and full of opportunity.
How would you assess the General Assembly's handling, to date, of the various proposals surrounding a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights? What proposals would you have been willing to support and in what ways, if any, might you have approached it differently?
I love the Bears, but not at a cost to taxpayers. The General Assembly has handled this poorly—rushing a last-minute Senate bill for a publicly owned stadium that still risks public exposure, then letting the House adjourn without a vote. That left the team considering Indiana and gave no real certainty.I would support proposals where the Bears privately finance the stadium, with fair local tax deals that protect residents and schools, and only limited infrastructure help from existing funds. State Rep. Marty McLaughlin’s Taxpayer Investment Protection Act does that: it sets a predictable property tax valuation based on the land purchase, caps annual increases, and requires independent audits and oversight so costs aren’t shifted onto homeowners. That’s a responsible way to keep the Bears here without blank checks.I would have started earlier with transparent talks focused on private investment and strict taxpayer protections, not late-night half-measures.
Now roughly three years into the elimination of cash bail in Illinois as part of the SAFE-T Act, how would you assess the success or failure of the criminal justice reform measure? What changes, if any, would you support?
Three years in, the SAFE-T Act’s elimination of cash bail has failed to put public safety first. Families across Illinois have watched too many accused of serious crimes walk free only to reoffend, while judges face limits on detaining those who pose a clear risk. The result has been revolving-door releases of repeat offenders that strain police, erode trust, and leave neighborhoods less safe.I would support changes that restore judicial discretion: letting judges detain defendants charged with felonies when they threaten a specific person or the public, accounting for criminal history and reoffending risk, and allowing limited cash bail for certain offenses to help ensure court appearance without punishing the poor. Better data transparency is also essential so we can track outcomes honestly and hold the system accountable.Victims and law-abiding families deserve a system that protects them, not one that prioritizes ideology over safety. Targeted fixes can address what has put too many communities at risk.
Illinois homeowners face one of the highest relative property tax burdens in the country. What specific proposals could you offer to ease the burden on state residents?
Illinois homeowners, myself included, are crushed by some of the highest property taxes in the nation, and families are forced to choose between staying in the homes they worked hard for and moving out of state. We can ease that burden with specific, common-sense steps.I would expand the General Homestead Exemption and Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, automatically renew senior freezes, and support full exemptions for longtime seniors who own their homes free and clear. I would strengthen and expand the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law to close loopholes, apply real caps statewide, and require voter approval for levy increases only in general elections when turnout is higher.We should also increase state funding for schools paired with mandatory local levy reductions so education costs stop driving local bills higher, while auditing state and local spending to cut waste and unfunded mandates. Finally, I support property tax relief grants to districts that limit growth and better transparency so homeowners can challenge unfair assessments.These changes would give families real relief, protect seniors, and keep more people in Illinois instead of driving them away.
Gov. JB Pritzker recently paused a state initiative granting incentives to data center developers, and residents statewide have concerns about how such developments are affecting their access to water, utility rates, and the environment. How should the state approach data centers going forward?
Data centers can bring investment and jobs, but we should ask why we need so many of them and what data they are actually collecting and storing. Too often these facilities process enormous amounts of personal information with little public oversight, while shifting the real costs—higher utility bills, water use, and grid strain—onto Illinois families.The pause on incentives was overdue; we should not restart blank-check subsidies. Going forward, the state should require data centers to bring their own energy capacity or fully pay for any grid upgrades so residential rates do not rise. They must use closed-loop or minimal-water cooling systems and undergo independent studies proving no harm to local aquifers, drinking water, or the environment before approval. Full transparency is essential—no secret deals or NDAs—along with real public hearings and strong local control so communities decide what is right for them.I support clear rules that protect ratepayers, water supplies, and the environment while still allowing responsible private investment. Illinois should grow the economy without forcing families to pay higher bills or risk their water so tech companies can expand.
Illinois’ “sanctuary” policies concerning immigration have made it a target for the Trump administration and critics who say they encourage criminal behavior. How do you feel about those policies, and how, if at all, would you change them?
Illinois’ sanctuary policies undermine the rule of law and put communities at risk. By limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, these rules make it harder to remove people who are here illegally and commit crimes, shielding offenders instead of prioritizing the safety of law-abiding residents and legal immigrants.I would support changes that restore cooperation with ICE, require local law enforcement to honor detainers for those accused or convicted of crimes, and end policies that create safe havens for criminal illegal immigrants. We should enforce existing laws fairly, protect victims, and ensure that illegal status does not become a shield against accountability.Legal immigration is a strength of our country. Sanctuary policies that encourage lawlessness are not. Families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and that starts with enforcing the law without exceptions for those who break it.
Many women in the legislature complain about a culture of sexual harassment in Springfield. Do you see evidence of this and, if so, what should be done about it?
Yes, there is clear evidence of a sexual harassment problem in Springfield. Recent investigations, resignations such as former Rep. Harry Benton’s after a legislative inspector general found a pattern of misconduct, and longstanding complaints from women who work in the Capitol show it has not been fully rooted out. Leadership delays in acting and political protection of colleagues only make it worse.This behavior is unacceptable from anyone, in any party. We need real accountability: independent investigations with timely public reporting, swift and consistent consequences including expulsion when warranted, stronger protections against retaliation for victims and staff, and an end to the culture of looking the other way to protect political power.Every legislator should be held to the same standard. Respect and professionalism are non-negotiable if we want Springfield to serve the people of Illinois with integrity.
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, I am not satisfied with the state’s existing ethics policies for senators and representatives. The Legislative Inspector General lacks independent subpoena power, cannot always release findings without approval from a commission of lawmakers, and faces a short statute of limitations. That structure lets the people being watched control the watchdogs, which has allowed scandals and delayed accountability for years.Illinoisans should expect higher standards. We need an independent inspector general with full subpoena authority and the power to publish founded reports without legislative permission, a longer window to investigate, and an ethics commission that includes members outside the legislature. We should also ban the use of campaign funds for criminal defense, strengthen revolving-door rules so former lawmakers cannot immediately lobby, and require clearer, enforceable conflict-of-interest disclosures.Real reform means consequences and transparency, not paper tigers. Elected leaders must be held accountable so the public can trust that Springfield serves them, not itself.
What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?
I come from a proud military family and have been raised and lived a life of service to others. For nearly 30 years I have worked in special education, first as a classroom teacher and then as an administrator, rising from director of special education and student services to superintendent. Those years taught me how to listen to families, solve complex problems with limited resources, and put students first every day.I have also been a careful steward of taxpayer dollars throughout my career. Managing budgets, making tough choices, and stretching every dollar so children and communities get the services they need has prepared me to do the same in Springfield—where too often spending grows without results.I bring practical experience, a record of accountability, and a commitment to serving people rather than special interests. Those qualifications will help me fight for better schools, safer communities, and more affordable lives for the families of our district.