Candidates agree on school funding problems

None of the Republican candidates for the 50th state House district are happy with Illinois' school funding system.

But their ideas how to fix it vary.

Kay Hatcher of Yorkville said the state should follow the recommendations of Jim Edgar's "Blue Ribbon Committee." She said Chicago and the rest of the state have to have their property taxes assessed in the same way before any changes in funding can be discussed.

Terry Hunt of Big Rock said more funds weren't the answer. He said more education funds need to go toward instruction.

He said a school voucher system was needed to increase competitiveness.

David Richmond of Batavia said he supports the "Fair Tax" approach, shifting taxes from property tax to a progressive sales tax.

He said residents needed to have a tax assessment cap on their property values.

Tony Graff of Yorkville said he also wanted to lower the need for property taxes to fund schools. He said he would be willing to look into an increase in sales or income tax to supplement that.

He also said he would support performance-based raises for teachers.

Each candidate counted ethics as a priority of their campaign.

Graff said legislators needed to restore the public's trust by being honest and transparent.

Richmond said campaign reporting needed to be more often and timely. He also said he supported current legislation that would prohibit large campaign contributors from getting statewide contracts.

Hunt said state government needed to be more transparent, and rank-and-file legislators needed to be more involved in the process.

Hatcher said in the past as an elected official she had never accepted a campaign contribution from vendors who did business with the governing body. She said she would support new ethics legislation.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Mary Schneider in the fall election.