Mel Thillens: Candidate Profile

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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: DesPlainesWebsite: www.vote4mel.comOffice sought: 55th District Representative Age: 42Family: I am married to Stephanie and have four sons, Max, Nathan, Sammy and Teddy.Occupation: Vice-President of Thillens Inc.Education: BA Columbia College ChicagoCivic involvement: Park Ridge Park District - President Holiday Lights Coalition Taste of Park Ridge â#8364;#8220; Chairman Park Ridge Football Juniors â#8364;#8220; Coach Park Ridge Indian Scouts â#8364;#8220; Tribal ChiefElected offices held: Park Ridge Park District CommissionerQuestions 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?Legislators should operate in a non-partisan fashion while making laws. Once elected our obligation is to the people, not the party. I will avoid, and encourage others to avoid counterproductive partisan squabbling and posturing. I would vote to retain Jim Durkin as Leader. He was just elected and needs a few years to prove he can handle the job. The most simple and effective way to change the way our government works is to not spend more than we take in. That's why we are broke and facing difficult spending prioritization decisions.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?First let me say that the state employee pension bankruptcy problem was caused by Democrat legislators who made lofty promises in return for union contributions to their campaign funds for the last 30 years, and then broke those promises. We need to change the process going forward, and to do that we need to bring all stakeholders to the table and make some tough decisions.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.Illinois doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. The temporary income tax should sunset as scheduled. Illinois used to lead, but now Illinois is trailing the rest of the nation in unemployment, job growth and out-migration. I do not intend to support any new or increased taxes or fees. If we want to bring back jobs to Illinois, we must lower taxes.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?Illinois could use some budget trimming as all governments can, but due to the pension fiasco and the huge debt that has been run up from 20 years of irresponsible borrowing, we need to look deep. Once I am elected I will be able to examine each line item in the massive $38 billion budget and decide, starting with fraud and pet projects. Right now the Democrats in control of the legislature and the Governor's office refuse to approve the $4 billion in cuts needed to balance the state budget.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?I believe school choice should be made available to parents, which would force greater efficiency and quality in schools. I do not support pension shifts to local schools. I believe the City of Chicago public school system receives hundreds of millions of dollars in additional subsidies from the state which allow it to help meet its teacher pension obligations. I do not want the same unfair subsidy for our local school districts, but a fair and uniform distribution of state education funds based on the number of students each district has.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The politicians in Springfield do not respect us. They do not value our paychecks or the taxes they force us to pay. They will not confront problems they have created. I am running for State Representative because, like you, I've had enough. Enough of the endless tax increases. Enough of Madigan's stranglehold on our economy. Every ten minutes someone moves out of Illinois for one of 46 states with a better employment rate. I do not want my kids to have to move away to find a job.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Darin LaHood, a reasonable, thoughtful leader.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Say what you mean and do what you say.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?My education. I learned a lot but should've taken it more seriously.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math. I enjoyed the exercises in problem solving, and I use those skills every day.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?There are choices you make that move you forward in life and those that move you backward. Choose forward.