Joe Sosnowski: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 69

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Illinois House District 69

City: Hanover Park

Age: 47

Occupation: Current State Representative; self-employed fundraising professional

Previous offices held: City Council Member — Rockford and DeKalb

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

We need to work with our federal partners in the following ways: 1. Secure the border to stop illegal immigration and enforce current laws. 2. Increase border personnel and technology. 3. Re-instate the remain in country of origin requirement while applying for asylum. 4. End catch and release. 5. Improve and speed up the legal citizenship and visiting worker permit process.

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?

We need campaign finance and ethics reform that the governor and Springfield leadership have avoided. 1. We need to eliminate the revolving door of legislators almost immediately becoming lobbyists; 2. We need to end pay-to-play politics and the current policy of unlimited campaign donations if a candidate breaks the cap is not a good public policy; 3. We need to empower the Legislative Inspector General with subpoena powers, so that the office may perform thorough corruption investigations.

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

Yes.

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

It may be too early to truly quantify the results but most criminal justice reforms have focused on helping criminals and lessening punishments. These policies have not focused on the victims of crime or on protecting innocent community members.

We need to focus on creating safe neighborhood through collaborative policing, utilization of technologies like ShotSpotter, and increasing penalties for re-offenders.

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?

The ban essentially criminalizes otherwise law-abiding citizens. The biggest problems majors cities, like Chicago, have with gun violence are criminals who own illegal handguns.

They don't have FOID cards, they don't have concealed carry permits, and many times they have stolen firearms. We need to increase penalties on offenders who commit crimes with firearms rather than going after law-abiding citizens.

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

Yes. It is a form of age discrimination and the Secretary of State needs to advocate for treating all residents similarly. I have co-sponsored legislation House Bill 4431 which would remove the requirement. Many states like Florida that have a higher percentage of senior drivers don't have this requirement and have longer timelines on license renewals without any poor outcomes.

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

I believe that policymakers should be citizen legislators that have private employment. I have had a career in both real estate and fundraising for nonprofits. It is important to have real world experience in order to improve the way that government operates.