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20th District Representative Khan: Candidate Profile

20th District Representative (Democrat)

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Park RidgeWebsite: www.votemokhan.comOffice sought: 20th District Representative Age: 29Family: I am one of six children born and raised in Park Ridge. My mother is a doctor and would take me to the hospital as a kid to see her in the work environment. She would stress to me that education is important, but what you do with that education is crucial; she used her education to take care of premature newborn children. My father, who holds a masters degree, taught me the virtue of civic participation. He emphasized the importance of public service.Occupation: I hold an Accounting degree and have served as a business consultant for various start-ups and smallEducation: University of Iowa, B.B.A. - Accounting Loyola University of Chicago School of Law - JD Candidate, 2015Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Questions Answers How will you work to make the General Assembly function more productively and effectively? Wlll you vote to retain your party's current legislative leader? In what specific ways do you support changing how government in Springfield works?People think Illinois is a place with dirty politicians. The state says itâ#128;™s cleaned up its act. But people want proof. Whatâ#128;™s proof? Term limits are proof. There are 15 US states whose legislators have term limits. Let's make Illinois the 16th. My first day in office â#128;#147; this is at the top of the agenda. 4 two-year terms is enough. I will not seek more. The House Democratic Leadership has not supported my candidacy. Nobody in Springfield picked me out of the chorus to run for office â#128;#147; quite the opposite, in fact. Iâ#128;™m proud of this Independent campaign.If the Supreme Court, strikes down the SB 1 pension reform, what is your Plan B and why do you think it would be both legal and effective?Last year, I said I would not have voted for SB 1 because I believed it to be unconstitutional. The Illinois Supreme Court is on the verge of saying the same. The politics and politicians of the past have failed this State. There is no easy choice. Either we cut spending on current, contractually obligated benefits (unconstitutional) or we find ways to raise revenue. I will work to raise revenue not by increasing tax rates, but by increasing employment and thus the amount of residents paying taxes. Tackling unemployment, quickly, will be an effective piece to solving the pension puzzle.As it stands now, the 2011 income tax increase will expire as planned on Jan. 1. Do you think that expiration should be reconsidered? Would you support making the increase permanent or extending it for some period of time? Please be specific about what level of tax increase, if any, you would support.I do not support making the current income tax rates permanent. I favor lowering them each year during my first term. The 2011 Income Tax law was flawed from the outset. During fiscal years 2012 -2014, we should have steadily lowered income tax rates. This would have forced spending cuts each year to balance against the loss of income tax revenue. Instead, failed policy and lack of preparation has now left us facing a $2 billion budget hole next year. This threatens to harm the lives of seniors, children, and the mentally ill all across Illinois.Do you support cuts in state spending? If so, what specifically do you suggest cutting and how will those cuts be sufficient to restore the state's financial health and economic climate?I support spending cuts. An efficient state budget is a top priority. My first term will be spent auditing each dollar in State spending. This means visiting every agency and analyzing the value those dollars have for the short and long term financial health of Illinois. Cuts alone are not the solution to fix our economic climate. Illinoisans will live through a poor economy until we prioritize increased access to capital for start-up companies - which has been, and will continue to be, my focus. Simply put, building businesses in Illinois will attract more business to Illinois.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education? Would you support the the so-called pension cost-shift to local schools?Do you know how to code an iphone app? Neither do I. Nor will another generation of students unless, as a State, we boldly prioritize developing technology skills through public education. We need to focus on math and computer science skills because these jobs are going unfilled today. What about tomorrowâ#128;™s workforce? We need flexibility that allows our curriculum to adapt to an economy that is progressing much faster than VHS to DVD. In regards to the Pension cost-shift, I will not advocate in favor of it because it will in effect increase property taxes.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Want to find the middle class? Look on the back of a milk carton. College costs continue to soar despite record high unemployment and stagnant wages - does that seem right to you? Me neither. Are we willfully giving up our right to privacy, or is it systematically being taken away from us? Little bit of both is probably accurate - and never has a thorough discussion about privacy in the 21st century been needed more. But most importantly, I want to work for my district - their individual and collective issues are of greatest importance to me.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My parents. They have always loved us with patient hearts. They taught me so much. I cannot ever truly repay them.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Thereâ#128;™s no free parking in life â#128;#147; personal initiative and hard work is how you pass Go.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I donâ#128;™t think this way. Nobodyâ#128;™s perfect. Learn from your mistakes and make sure you get it right.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?No subject specifically. But my favorite school teacher taught me that if you work hard, good things will happen. That lesson is my north star.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Tickets to the matinee is not a night at the movies â#128;#147; always be honest, especially with yourself.