Gabby Shanahan: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 97

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Illinois House District 97

City: Joliet

Age: No answer given

Occupation: No answer given

Previous offices held: Kendall County Board of Health, Finance Committee Chair

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

As a working mom of three, I understand the strain working families are under from high inflation and property taxes. I’ll prioritize funding that helps our local families while cutting spending to lower inflation and reduce taxes.

My opponent has taken the opposite approach: voting to provide taxpayer-funded health care for noncitizens while taking money away from programs for seniors and failing to eliminate the grocery tax. We deserve leaders focused on the needs of our residents and not on political posturing.

We must examine policies that put us in a weak position and work with federal and state partners to take more control over our budget. This may include changes to the TRUST Act and increased federal support through increased border security and direct funding to care for migrant families.

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?

When unethical behavior and corruption are present in government, our families suffer. I work for an organization dedicated to rooting out corruption, holding the government accountable, and increasing transparency. My frustration with Democrats’ failure to provide true and effective ethics reform is one reason I ran for state representative.

Incumbent Harry Benton has taken over $500,000 from former Speaker Mike Madigan and hasn’t condemned his corruption, self-dealing, or Me Too scandals.

He failed to condemn Sen. Mike Hastings over his domestic abuse allegations and stood by while his political allies have come under federal indictment.

At every opportunity to show independence and hold government accountable, Benton has instead fallen in line to protect the status quo. Illinois needs stricter ethics and anti-corruption policies, which are the reforms I’ve fought for.

We need leaders who will do what is right. That is what I offer and what my opponent has failed to deliver.

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

Yes. As a candidate, I’ve always been open and accessible to our district's voters and will continue to be when elected. Voters can easily find my contact information on my website. Elected officials must be responsive to their constituents, and ensuring transparency and accessibility is the first step.

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

As a mom of young kids, keeping our communities safe is incredibly personal. Illinois has been a national bad example of what soft-on-crime policies do to a society: emboldening criminals and undermining public safety. Individuals who commit crimes should have to face the consequences of those crimes, and every family deserves to live in a community without the threat of violent crime.

I support transparency measures such as police body cameras and increased reporting to elected officials and the general public.

Through my work, I’ve been at the forefront of criminal justice reform in Illinois because most incarcerated persons will eventually return to society. We must balance justice and punishment with rehabilitation so that when they return to society, they can become productive and independent members positioned to make a positive impact on our communities.

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?

Individuals who commit violent crimes, especially repeat offenders using firearms, pose a significant risk to public safety and must be held accountable. Releasing these offenders back onto the streets without proper consequences undermines the safety of our communities. Soft-on-crime policies can have horrific consequences that we all agree we must work to prevent.

I believe in keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals or those with severe mental health challenges. That means focusing on practical measures, like safe storage laws, comprehensive background checks, and ensuring firearm owners receive appropriate training.

These steps will help ensure responsible gun ownership while protecting our communities' safety.

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

Our goal should always balance safety with respect for the freedoms of all our citizens, including seniors. If data doesn’t show this mandate as an effective safety policy, it should be eliminated in favor of increased scrutiny of drivers with poor safety records, tickets, and accidents. Seniors should not be singled out for increased time at the DMV without cause.

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

Local families are desperate for independent leadership that reflects their needs and values.

As a working mom of three kids, I am running to improve their lives. That means lowering the cost of everyday goods like gas and groceries, cutting taxes, ensuring a safe community, and making sure every kid can reach their potential through access to an excellent education.

As a political outsider and community leader, I have a fresh, solution-oriented, and independent perspective. Voters are rightly hungry for change, and I offer families a mother’s sensibility rooted in serious policy issues.

I am not interested in politics as usual or partisan games. I’m running to deliver tangible results for local families and fix Illinois for the future.