Tonia Khouri: Candidate Profile

Back to 49th District Representative

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: AuroraWebsite: www.ToniaKhouri.comTwitter: @tonia_khouriFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/toniakhouri/Office sought: 49th District Representative Age: 48Family: Married to Joe for 25 years. We have 3 children: Stephanie (in college), Tony (in college), and Paul (6th Grade)Occupation: Owner, Green T Services and DuPage County Board MemberEducation: Harvard Kennedy School 2013 Senior Executives in State Local Government Southern Illinois University Bachelor of Science, Public Relations 1991Civic involvement: Board of Directors, Choose DuPage Board of Directors, DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, DuPage Workforce Board Board of Directors, Aurora Family Counseling Services Indian American Republican Organization Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Aurora Chamber of Commerce Naperville Woman's Club Naperville Township Committeeman Daughters of the American Revolution, Aurora ChapterElected offices held: DuPage County Board Member, Chairman of Economic Development 2012-presentQuestions Answers What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? Will you vote for your current legislative leader? What is your position on term limits in general and for legislative leaders specifically?I support term limits -- especially term limits for leadership. The current legislative structure gives too much power to leadership. For example, anyone can donate unlimited funds to a caucus leader, like Mike Madigan, yet individual candidates are restricted. This is why so many rank and file members are beholden to their leader. They need the leader to fund their campaign. In terms of policy, the legislature's "house rules" are some of the most restrictive in the country. It is virtually impossible to move legislation without Madigan's approval. Even a super-majority of 71 members cannot move legislation without his consent. This is flat-out wrong. During the last 3 years too much time has been spent on politics instead of policy. The minority leader, Representative Durkin, has been dealt many difficult hands. I support Representative Durkin.On budgeting, what should be done to ensure that the state does not again go through a period of time without a budget in place? What will you do as a legislator to help ensure that the spending priorities you espouse during your campaign are reflected in the budget?Too much about Springfield is about politics not policy. I believe if everyone was negotiating in good faith, a balanced budget could have been achieved. Rank file Republicans and Democrats had the will to work together across the aisle, but leadership was not as willing. Illinois does not have a revenue problem. Illinois has a spending and efficiency problem and that's where I will be laser focused Ãcirc;#144; passing legislation that deals with overspending and reforming structural spending. I've served on the DuPage County Board for six years and have never voted for a tax increase. During my tenure, DuPage County has actually reduced our overall budget by $36.5 million saving taxpayers an estimated $110 million. We accomplished this, with bipartisan support, by implementing joint procurement, shared services, and consolidation. That's how you balance a budget - by cutting spending and reforming how government operates. These are the types of reforms I will bring to Springfield along with the experience and courage needed to implement them.Should the legislature approve ballot initiatives either for a constitutional amendment on legislative redistricting or one on term limits? If so, how would you recommend the issues be structure? If not, why not?I support both legislative redistricting and term limits. Right now, without redistricting reform, politicians are choosing the voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. Right now, without term limits, career politicians and political insiders have too much power.What approach do you support in fixing public employee pension systems?Here's a constitutional approach that would make a significant dent in the debt: Representative Batnick has introduced a few variations of a pension buyout. It is clearly constitutional because it is OPTIONAL. It allows individuals in the pension system to exchange a benefit for a lump sum value that would be rolled into a retirement account tax-free. For example, a person who is set to earn a $60,000 / year pension at retirement has a net-present value cost to the state of about $1M. He/she could exchange that for a $30,000 / year pension and a $500,000 accelerated payment minus a small discount to the state. That discount would be the savings. We could also offer optional buyouts to move current employees into defined contribution plans, and even offer buyout for benefits like the 3% COLA. COGFA estimates show that this could save billions. With pension costs being about 25% of our budget and increasing, this is an area that desperately needs addressing.To what extent do you support or oppose legalization of marijuana for recreational use?It concerns me that government, by looking at legalizing drugs and expanding gambling, is getting into the business of activities that used to be controlled by Organized Crime. The state should stop looking for ways to increase revenue to the detriment of our young people and start looking for ways to reform the structural spending of our government and economic growth to balance its budget.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am focused on protecting the quality of life for families and small businesses in our community. That means property tax relief, governmental reforms, and accountability in Springfield because cronyism, corruption, and unaccountable behavior are hurting our families and bankrupting our state. I'm going to Springfield to defend our homes, represent the people's interests and stop our skyrocketing property taxes. Speaking with residents in the 49th district, their main complaint is that their taxes are too high. Our families pay the one of the highest property tax rates in the nation. Property taxes are literally pricing people out of their homes, especially our senior population. Illinois loses 1 resident every 4.6 minutes to other states and Millennials are leading the pack as they look elsewhere for better opportunities, lower taxes, and a more stable government. A property tax freeze is not enough because our property taxes are too high. We need to lower property taxes. We need to reform how property taxes are assessed, the state has to do a better job of funding education from the state level, and we need to make government deliver its services in a more efficient way. All of these things will help lower property taxes and allow Illinois residents to stay in their homes.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My father, a Marine, taught me to be honest, have integrity, and always do my best. I still carry these values with me today.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would do it the exact same way. The love I've shared and the lessons I've learned have made me who I am today.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. If we know our history, we glean insight into our future.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I try and teach them my personal life mission statement: To serve God and ALL his children with compassion and integrity.