Q&A with Gray

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?

State government is failing us, and I felt my state senator was not representing my interests, and he was going to run for re-election unopposed. Balancing the budget, controlling spending, and ethics reform are badly needed, and I feel that I can bring a fresh perspective to state government.

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.

I would make it a point to identify and cut wasteful spending. I would use my private sector experience to help the state reverse the trend of being an anti-business state in order to broaden the tax base and to create good paying jobs. School finance reform is a top priority, and I'll use my experience in a successful school district to help create a funding system that is sustainable, fair, and adequate.

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

In order for me to vote for any tax increase, I'd have to be convinced first that there was a serious effort to identify and eliminate waste in state spending and to look critically at ways to provide services more efficiently. I would not vote for any budgets that are not balanced with reliable revenue sources. The state budget is about $4500 for every man, woman, and child, and if managed properly (i.e. no pork, resonable rules for how money is spent, etc.) should be enough to fund all necessary programs. We have to live within our means, and we have to stop borrowing money which creates liabilities for future generations.

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

I support limited expansion of gambling in Illinois at existing venues such as race tracks and destination points where patrons are primarily from out of town. Gambling revenues are proving to be an unreliable source and should not be used for bonding. Attracting businesses and good paying jobs is a far more desirable and sustainable way to increase property values, boaden the tax base, and create economic activity that funds education and healthcare.

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

Voters should have the right to recall officials under circumstances such as we have with our current governor who misrepresents state finances, has questionable fundraising practices, is vindictive in the way funds are allocated to lawmaker's districts, and through fiscal mismanagement such as non-payment of Medicade bills, failure to fund teachers pensions, and sweeping of funds intended for specific purposes. Citizens have to be able to recall elected officials who are clearly not working for the common good of the state.

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 did not support the tax on collar counties to support a mismanaged Chicago Trasit System, especially when the City of Chicago, Cook County, and CTA riders did not also bear the burden through increased fees or taxes. Lake County residents rejected tax increases for roads twice, and this particular bill, where only half of the money collected stays in Lake County, was forced upon them. The legislators who supported this clearly were not representing their districts' best interests, and instead caved in to pressure from Chicago machine influences.

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

I would vote for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson as he has performed well for this state considering the adverse and tulmultuous environment that is currently our General Assembly.

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

I wholly support the idea of impeaching the Governor. This would not be an issue if current lawmakers listened to their constituents and had allowed the recall to be on the ballot this November. Instead, we're faced with a long and costly impeachement process that will make state government even more dysfunctional than it has been up to this point.