30th District candidates debate solutions to job losses

State Sen. Terry Link and his Republican challenger for the 30th District, Keith Gray, agree Illinois needs new jobs, more money for roads, equitable funding for education, and lower taxes.

Yet, the two have different approaches on how to get those things done in Springfield.

The candidates sounded off Tuesday on a variety of issues, including the national economy, state budget, the legislative agenda and consensus building in Springfield, during a candidate forum hosted by the North Chicago Chamber of Commerce.

Gray, 47, a small-business owner from Mettawa, said he's running primarily because he is disappointed with how Democrats have run state government since becoming the majority in the legislature.

Gray supports a change in leadership starting with the recall of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a measure that was defeated in the Senate and one Link vehemently opposes.

"We have the greatest recall and it's called the ballot box," said four-term incumbent Link, 61, a Waukegan Democrat who leads the party's Lake County wing. "If you want to recall somebody, vote them out."

Gray believes the state's financial crisis can be solved by curbing spending, improving roads and offering incentives that will draw new businesses to the region.

"We're losing jobs to states like Wisconsin and Indiana," Gray said. "They are going there because Illinois is not a business-friendly state. Since 2003, Illinois has lost 60,000 jobs. We have to relax some of the burdens on businesses."

Gray said legislators including Link voted for 109 new taxes and fees imposed on businesses, compounding the problem.

Link said even if the state did not raise taxes and fees, Illinois would have lost those manufacturing jobs.

"They are leaving not only the state of Illinois. They are leaving the country," he said. "We are doing a bad job in the country (of keeping jobs), we are not only doing a bad job in the state of Illinois."

Link said until the national economy turns around, every state is going to lose jobs.

"We are facing a national economic downswing that has been going on for seven years," he said.

As for the state budget crisis, Link said a lot has been accomplished since Democrats took over.

"In 2003, we inherited a $5 billion deficit," Link said. "It's not easy to turn over in a year's time. We can only cut so much until services rendered are down to zero, and I don't think people want that."

The 30th District covers eastern Lake County from Waukegan south to North Chicago and southwest to Green Oaks, Mettawa, Lincolnshire and Riverwoods and a small portion of Cook County.