Q&A with Senger

1. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what? What will be your main priority?

Serving as Naperville City Councilman for the past six years, I have been privileged to represent the issues most important to area families and businesses. For the last six years, our state's economic prosperity has been crippled under Blagojevich's acute vision. His short-term solutions for today's long-term challenges have led to out-of-control spending and profligate proportions of debt. Illinois families are feeling the effects with unemployment rates soaring at 7.3 percent, 1.6 percent higher than the national average; property rates forcing senior and veterans out of homes, and industries and small businesses fleeing to neighboring states. The state's economic pulse has stopped and families are suffering. Simply put, Illinois is broken. It is time state leaders begin listening to families on what is important to them. I am running for State Representatives to be the voice of hard-working families and local businesses in Springfield. Among my top legislative priorities will be: holding the line on taxes and unfunded mandates; expanding Route 59; completing the STAR LINE; creating and restoring jobs along the I-88 corridor; increasing local education dollars; enacting the nation's toughest ethics laws; and offering families, seniors and veterans meaningful property tax relief. Area families deserve a strong voice and a leader who will stand up to the political establishment and get the job done. For the past 5 years, State Representative Joe Dunn has served our district with great success and honor, and his retirement opens the door for a new Naperville leader in Springfield. Serving as your next State Representative, I will be an honest, independent and hard-working leader prepared to make the tough decisions to bring home results. I will step over the smallness of politics and extend my hand across the aisle to work with Democrats and Independents. As State Representative, I will introduce and pass meaningful laws to help your family. My Agenda for Action will include: opposing tax increases; creating good-paying jobs; repairing, expanding and rebuilding new roads and trains; demanding fiscal responsibility; delivering real property tax relief; creating cyber-safety laws to stop online predators,; and aiding families in affording a college education.

2. For incumbents and non-incumbents. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.

As City Councilman, I have been committed to minimizing the city's reliance on property taxes and promoting economic development. Our current municipal property tax rate at $.7125 cents is the lowest in more than thirty years and will further decline in 2008 to $.6966 cents. Job growth at 18.77% is contributed to our diverse commerce and industry with Fortune 500 companies to home-based businesses. Such large industries such as Nicor Gas, Tellabs, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods and BP Amoco call Naperville home. The private-sector job growth generates thousands of dollars in revenue for our excellent schools, award wining Park District and library system which ranked number one in the country for eight years. Serving as State Representative, I will bring my experience in budgeting and financial policy on the Naperville City Council to the legislature. Illinois must foster an attitude of fairness in taxation and accountability in spending to become a hospitable business climate. Our state's current hostile political environment and unpredictability in taxing only inhabits our economic future. I am ready to tackle tough issues to cut wasteful spending, bring greater transparency to state spending and create jobs through a comprehensive jobs/capital plan. My professional background in financial planning, employee benefits and pension consulting has prepared me to handle our state's fiscal crisis. My experience as Past President of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation, Naperville Plan Commissioner and Steering Member of the Regional Answer to Canadian National will further my contributions to the General Assembly.

3. Under what circumstances, if any, would you support raising the state income or sales tax? Please explain.

I do not support raising the income tax or sales tax. Illinois must begin living within their means and stop passing spending plans that are $2 billion out-of-balance. The jobless rate is the highest in 14 years with 491,300 seeking employment. It is unacceptable for state leaders to ask hard-working families and small businesses to pay more taxes when government cannot reign in spending and pass true balanced budgets. Families are paying skyrocketing property taxes, high energy bills and expensive tuition payments, their paychecks are stretched to the limit to pay more taxes. As Naperville's Representative, I will demand state government becomes good stewards of taxpayer dollars and begin reinvesting into the future of Illinois families. Our state must pass economic stimulus measures to put money back in taxpayers' pockets and rebuild our lagging transportation infrastructure. As State Representative, I will introduce legislation to increase the homestead exemption, double the property tax rebate for all taxpayers and repeal high business fees on small business.

4. Do you support the expansion of gambling by adding slot machines at racetracks? Do you favor licensing and building new casinos? Please explain.

Two of Naperville's top legislative priorities are expanding Route 59 and relieving congestion on area roads. As State Representative, I would consider using the revenue stream generated from our state's 10th casino license as a possible funding mechanism for critical transportation improvements.

5. Would you support giving voters the ability to recall elected officials?

Rod Blagojevich fueled his gubernatorial campaigns with the promise to end 'business as usual' in Springfield. Six years later, Blagojevich's pledge to reform state politics is a national joke. Corruption has been a cornerstone of the Blagojevich administration. His pay-to-play cabinet includes Tony Rezko, Ali Atta, Stu Levine and Joseph Cari, all of which have pled guilty to corruption charges or found guilty in a court of law. Blagojevich has destroyed public trust, tarnished our state business credibility and disgraced the good of state government. His utter malfeasance has put Springfield in political gridlock preventing important measures, as the jobs/capital plan, from receiving a fair and honest debate. I fully support voters' ability to recall elected officials. A recall provides a way for citizens to retain control over elected officials whose action, or inaction, has failed to properly represent constituents. Recalls institutes a higher standard of accountability where unresponsive or incompetent officials are not tolerated. Unfortunately, the earliest that any recall procedure could be placed before Illinois voters is in the summer and fall of 2010. At that time gubernatorial candidates will be passing petitions for the upcoming General Election.

6. Did you support the suburban tax increases that were used to keep the public transportation trains and buses running without cuts or fare increases?

I oppose any tax increase to subsidize RTA's poorly managed transit system. Mass transit is a vital component of Naperville's thriving economy. The General Assembly must pass long-term mass transit reforms to address the funding, spending, pension and equipment maintenance issues facing RTA. The need for mass transit will continue to increase as our population grows, and our current short-term measure of taxation is not a long-term solution.

7. If you are elected, will you vote for the current party leader of your legislative chamber? Why or why not?

House Republican Leader Tom Cross is an exceptional legislative leader who supports his members' independent voting record. As State Representative, I will look forward to supporting Leader Cross because he understands a successful legislator is one who puts their district before politics.

8. What do you think of the idea, widely circulated, of impeaching Gov. Blagojevich?

Governor Blagojevich came into office as a reformer, but his legacy will most likely be someone who took public corruption to unimaginable levels. The Governor's administration exists amidst a cloud of indictments, allegations and investigations that has crippled their ability to govern, much less lead. Should a House investigation deem the Governor guilty of impeachable offenses, I would support a vote for impeachment. However, I believe families in my district are more interested in a government that is responsive and accountable. Illinois needs tougher ethics reforms laws, and I am ready to pass them. As State Representative, I will pass the nation's toughest anti-corruption laws to restore the public's confidence in government. My anti-corruption agenda will put an end to Blagojevich's pay-to-play politics and increase transparency by: • banning government officials from soliciting contributions from contractors conducting business with their office • preventing elected officials and other state appointees and employees from receiving fees related to legal, banking and consulting work with state bonds • increasing disclosures for investment advisors and consultants with work before a State board or commission Families deserve a government committed to fiscal responsibility, transparency in spending and accountability to their constituents. Nowhere in good government can corruption reside.