Michele Clark: 2026 candidate for Illinois Senate District 33

Bio

Office sought: Senate District 33

Party: Democrat

City: Algonquin

Age: 53

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?

Affordability is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. I know that the cost of living is too high and that families are getting squeezed in every direction with grocery bills, child care prices, and property taxes. I will fight to cut property taxes, everyday expenses and make sure the wealthy pay their fair share. I believe that Springfield should work for hardworking people, not special interests. If elected to the General Assembly, I would support term limits for state House and Senate leaders and ethics laws to ban Springfield politicians from working as lobbyists right after they leave office. I will fight to get dark money out of politics, because Illinoisans deserve a government that's working for them, not powerful insiders. I know firsthand families can't afford skyrocketing healthcare costs. In the Senate, I will take on the rising costs of healthcare, including lowering the costs of prescription drugs and making sure seniors on fixed incomes can get the care they need. As a former small business owner, I know how difficult it can be to provide healthcare to employees. In the senate, I would want to work with small businesses to attain healthcare for their employees.

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?

As a lifelong sports and football fan, I believe that Illinois and the Chicagoland Area deserve to continue to be the home of the Chicago Bears. Affordability is at the forefront of much of the 33rd district and Illinois resident’s minds. Asking the hard-working fans to pick up the tab for a privately owned entity is not an option when many families are choosing between staying in their homes and keeping food on the table. Property taxes, for better or for worse, are the backbone of funding for local schools, public safety, libraries, and essential public services. Shifting the tax burden away from a billion-dollar entity and onto homeowners and small businesses is not fair to Illinois residents. This would take away resources that would otherwise better our community schools, increase funding for law enforcement and fire services. In the General Assembly, I would want I would want the Bears and their stakeholders to be part of a win-win solution, investing in a community that will support their business endeavors” Whether they stay in Chicago or move to Arlington Heights, I hope they stay in Illinois but, it cannot be on the backs of working families struggling to make ends meet.

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?

Law enforcement is a cornerstone of every community. I want to work closely with departments and enforcement organizations in the district — ensuring they have the funding and resources they need to recruit, train and retain high-quality officers to keep our communities safe. Criminal justice reform is always changing. The SAFE-T Act included many important pieces of reform, especially for marginalized communities. However, since the elimination of cash bail, we see gaps that the bill created becoming more evident every day. I believe stakeholders within law enforcement were not included in the creation of the SAFE-T Act yet are responsible for the subsequent consequences that resulted in eliminating cash bail. If elected to the General Assembly, I would work with law enforcement on passing and support necessary reforms and trailer bills. I would also support more police funding and will block efforts to defund the police. I’d fight gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street and toughen penalties on criminals who bring in guns from nearby states.

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?

“Property taxes are too high” is something I hear from voters on a daily basis. For better or for worse, our schools and many essential community services rely on property taxes for funding. If elected to the General Assembly, one of my priorities will be to decrease the property tax burden on voters. I support seeking alternative and progressive revenue sources to fund some of our government services. I would push to increase the amount of funding schools receive prioritizing the Evidence Based Funding model. Additionally, we need to keep the seniors who built our communities in their homes. I would support increasing the eligibility for senior property tax freezes.

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?

First and foremost, I support local control and the autonomy of municipalities across the state. What is best for one community might not be best for another. Before considering any project regarding the development of new data centers, I would need to consider various stakeholders including community residents, local elected officials and job creators, like our labor unions. Economic development works best when we understand both sides of the equation. Additionally, it is of the utmost importance that we consider the environmental, monetary, and personal impact on the community where development is considered. Any project cannot raise electric, water or other costs to residents already feeling the squeeze from rising costs.

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?

If elected to the General Assembly, I will be chosen to represent all of the members of the 33rd district. I do not support the ICE Agents who have come into our community and have harassed hardworking families, students and seniors- not caring about their status as a legal citizen. I want to support local law enforcement and the work they do to keep all residents safe, regardless of one’s immigration status. I believe communities are safest when local law enforcement offices have the ability to coordinate.

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?

Since I have not been elected before, I have not personally witnessed or am familiar with the conduct or behavior of Springfield. I believe that any complaints of sexual harassment should be taken seriously and we must believe those addressing concerns until an investigation concludes. I would support having a 3rd party, neutral oversight body for these complaints, eliminating internal investigations.

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?

Springfield should work for taxpayers, not special or personal interests. I believe legislators and government officials should be held to the highest standard. If teachers, doctors, and social service workers are held to strict regulations, often set by the state, we should also be held accountable to the ethics rules set for the General Assembly. If elected to the General Assembly, I will bring with me a platform focused on strengthening ethical practices across the state. No one should hold power in Springfield for decades, that is why I support term limits for legislative leadership positions and ban elected officials from trading stocks while in office. Too many politicians leave office and cash in as lobbyists. I would support stronger ethics laws to close the revolving door of lobbying after legislating.

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

Before running for office, I rooted myself in service to my community. As a former small business owner, I understand how strong communities are built — by everyday people who work hard & want nothing more than safe neighborhoods, strong schools & the chance to give a better life to their families. These are the people I’ve stood with my whole life — and the ones I want to represent. Professionally, I’ve worn many hats. I became the owner of a large early childhood learning center, which I built and ran while raising our children. After selling my business, I served as COO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township during the COVID-19 pandemic — overseeing a multimillion dollar budget & leading staff through one of the most difficult times for families & kids in the district. With the Boys & Girls Club, I created opportunities & programs for students to stay off the streets and succeed in their future careers or education. Today, I serve as the Director of Development for the D300 Food Pantry, where I work to ensure that no child in our district goes hungry. It’s a role that combines my nonprofit experience, business background & passion for service — all in support of the next generation