Deborah Bullwinkel: 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: Villa ParkWebsite: debforcongress.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Deb Bullwinkel for CongressOffice sought: 8th Congressional District Age: 47Family: Husband, Michael ErlenbaughOccupation: Self-employedEducation: B.A., Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, 1990 Major: Communications Minor: JournalismCivic involvement: * Director, Board of Directors, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference* Member, Legislative Committee, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference* Executive Board Member, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus* Member, Environment Committee, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus* Board Member, DuPage Convention Visitors Bureau* Member, The Democratic Party of DuPage County* DuPage County Precinct Committeewoman, York 52 (elected)* Youth Mentor, North Grade School Jefferson Middle School, Villa Park, IL* Neighborhood Watch Block Captain* Member, Sierra Club* Supporter, Alliance for the Great LakesElected offices held: Village of Villa Park Trustee -- 2009-2013 Village of Villa Park Village President (Mayor) -- 2013-PresentQuestions Answers How will you work to make Congress more productive and effective? What actions are needed to produce a healthy federal budget? Specifically, what changes do you advocate regarding how revenue is produced or what our spending priorities are? In particular, what effect does current policy have on your district and what changes, if any, are needed?As the Mayor of a local town I am required to actually get things accomplished. I'm held accountable and my job requires me to show progress. I've worked with people that disagree with me ideologically, but I still developed a working relationship because that's what my constituents expect of me. I will do the same in Congress by building relationships with not only members of my own party, but across the aisle to get things done. Communication, inclusiveness, engagement and a #8220;team#8221; mentality does wonders to get things accomplished, even when you don't always see eye-to-eye.Also as Mayor, I understand the importance of investing in our communities while avoiding frivolous spending. We operate under a state mandate that requires municipalities to function with a balanced budget. We accomplish this every budget cycle, and I believe the Federal government should do the same whenever feasible. My goal as Congresswoman in the 8th Congressional District will be to expand our economy so that it works for the middle class by funding programs that encourage the growth of small businesses and the financial security of American families.I would advocate for more infrastructure investments in the Federal budget. As Mayor of Villa Park, I championed one of the largest infrastructure referenda in the village's history. We accomplished this by bringing forward a plan and including the residents in the process, and we continue a flow of communication with the residents post referendum to help keep things on track. I understand that strong investments in infrastructure lead to good jobs for working families and a more stable economy.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? How will these policies have an impact in your district?We have to have comprehensive reform that includes a path to legalization for the undocumented immigrants who are here, a clear and fair set of rules for those who wish to enter our country and proper security measures to ensure our citizens are protected.I see compromise where we are providing sufficient resources to secure our borders, while finding responsible ways to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. All involved with the process desire to have enough trust in the system so those living in the shadows are able to raise their families, start their own businesses and obtain loans for their homes and cars. In order for members across the aisle to understand that message, I need to build working relationships with them. I have established strong relationships on the local level, and I will strive to do the same on the Federal level, with all stakeholders, to get things accomplished.Fixing our immigration system would benefit my district because as we bring people out of the shadows and into our economy, we are expanding the tax base that could help support funding for education, healthcare and infrastructure.What should be the top priorities in Congress related to the Affordable Care Act? If you want changes, what specifically do you recommend? If you want the act entirely eliminated, please address these questions: Is that politically feasible? If it proves infeasible, where do you see the potential for compromise? If it is eliminated, what would you replace it with, if anything?The top priorities for Congress related to the ACA is finding meaningful reforms that will continue to improve the value and quality of care for Americans. After speaking with many business owners and individuals in my district, I recognize that the cost of health insurance is increasing for businesses and for working families, and we need to take a closer look at the ACA to see what needs to be fixed to help better control this increasing financial burden. The rising cost of health insurance is impacting my family as well. That said, this doesn't necessarily mean the ACA isn't working. The CBO has projected that the cost of the Affordable Care Act has been reduced five times since its inception and it is a net deficit reducer. I will do what I can to implement sensible reforms to help reduce the financial burden that is impacting business owners and working families.One reform is repealing disparaging attempts by Republicans to bankrupt insurance companies trying to cover members of the health exchanges by eliminating the risk corridor provision. This is nothing more than a partisan attempt at breaking the law.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances, should we have military forces actively operating?Our first priority is to find diplomatic solutions before considering sending our brave men and women overseas. We need to build a coalition among our allies in the region and provide them with the resources they need to fight ISIS. Any military role from the United States would be a supportive role, at least on the front end.Unless there are no other options, we are not risking the lives of our military personnel in another ground war that has no end in sight.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?Village of Villa Park, Board of Trustees #8211; won in 2009 with 65% of the voteVillage of Villa Park, President #8211; won in 2013 with 76% of the voteNo, I have never been appointed to fill an unexpired term.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Sen. Elizabeth WarrenWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?No matter what, just be myself and don't allow anyone to change who I am or tell me I can't be whatever I want to be in life. I continue with this #8220;M-O#8221; today.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I truly cannot think of anything I'd do-over in my life. So far, I'm pretty satisfied with my life.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English because it set the stage for my life, first as a journalist and onward from there. It taught me how to write and communicate, two life skills that are, in my opinion, probably the most important life skills.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?We don't have children, but we have several nieces and nephews! My advice to them mirrors my biggest life lesson mentioned above.