Jeff Keicher: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 70

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Illinois House District 70

City: Sycamore

Age: 51

Occupation: Insurance agency owner

Previous offices held: State Representative, 70th District since 2018; Appointed to Sycamore Public Library board

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

Ultimately, immigration must not be left up to states to fix. As the Republican spokesperson on the House Immigration Committee, I understand the massive and multilayered problems our open border has caused.

Texas Gov. Abbott's actions are borne out of frustration from years of trying to tackle a national problem with very little help or resources, and a lack of understanding or appreciation from “sanctuary states” like Illinois.

What revealed is soft-on-crime Democrats don’t have a solution for immigration other than blaming Republicans. What is needed is a cooperative, solutions-based, and humanitarian dialogue centered on prioritizing Illinois citizens. Right now, the value judgment Democrats have made in their spending places billions of taxpayer spending on non-citizens before Illinois' own seniors, before Meals on Wheels, before domestic violence shelters, before assisted care facilities who were denied the funding they needed, and countless other worthy programs.

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?

I sit as a member of the Legislative Ethics Commission. That means I have seen firsthand the shortcomings of our ethics laws and the ethical lapses of elected officials. Without exception, Illinoisans should expect the highest standards from its elected leaders.

We have some prominent “bad actors” that are too common and the path to making it better rests with ensuring consequences for bad actions. I’ve been asking since I became a representative to allow the Legislative Inspector General broader powers to investigate, along with the power to issue subpoenas and take him or her wherever an investigation may lead.

It is important to remember as well, most people in Illinois government and our elected officials are good people trying to do good work. But voters, for good reason, are skeptical. We need to build a system that has accountability and move past the shadow we have been in for far too long.

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

I would support any program or system that drives voters to be better engaged with candidates.

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

Two words come to mind — responsibility and consequences. These two words define what I would suggest is wrong with the “reforms” passed recently such as the SAFE-T Act. We have eroded the need to be responsible for our own actions — while at the same time have taken away many of the consequences that might prevent future crimes.

The SAFE-T Act went too far, and it has put victims of crime in dangerous situations with the perpetrator back on the streets. Democrats tried to simplify what they did as “getting rid of cash bail” which allowed murderers to buy their freedom, but what now occurs is to allow criminals more freedom to commit more crime.

I have prepared, sponsored and passed unanimously two pieces of legislation that help survivors of human trafficking to expunge or seal the convictions they received due to crimes they were forced to commit by their captor. I believe we need to prioritize victims and help our local communities to prevent crime and punish criminals.

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?

Illinois Democrats need to stop passing laws that abridge the rights of law-abiding citizens and instead enforce the current laws against those who commit violent crimes with illegally-held and obtained guns.

Imagine an Illinois where every Illinoisan who lives with the threat of gun violence too often residents of Chicago had the freedom and security to drive their streets, enjoying their neighborhoods safely. Instead we have a mayor who continues to allow a consequence-free life in Chicago for those who commit gun crimes.

And Democrats in Springfield try to convince Illinois that the problem is with legal owners of guns. Look at the numbers and data. They cannot be allowed to continue to ignore Chicago criminal shooting problem every year. It’s got to stop.

In Springfield, as someone who received an assassination threat, I will continue to serve as a strong advocate for mental health resources and removing guns from dangerous and mentally ill people who should not have them

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

I am the sponsor of HB4431 to remove the requirement of behind the wheel tests for seniors triggered by their birthday.

The more common-sense approach is to have triggers for a driver’s test requirement. Things like a physical or mental condition that has been diagnosed since your last license renewal or a ticket or accident since the last renewal — at any age. Let’s start focusing on the drivers causing accidents instead of falling into a lazy trope of blaming older people.

From what I see, it’s not the older people speeding and checking their phones on the road.

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

Six years in office with a legislative record and verifiable reputation of being a problem solver would be the first qualification I’d share. Then, as an owner of a business that continues to grow and succeed in this state, I am committed to an Illinois that brings people here, and no longer chases them away.

My family came to Illinois in search of a better opportunity. My mom, waiting tables to keep a roof over our heads, taught me lessons that have guided me every step of the way to ensure we seek first to understand, before attempting to be understood.

I work to prioritize that servant mentality my mom taught in my work, and have been proud to serve in leadership positions in and outside of the Capitol where I can provide help to those who need it in order to make our state a better place to live, work, and raise our families.