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Daniel Didech: Candidate profile

Bio: Daniel Didech

City: Buffalo Grove

Website: www.danieldidech.com

Twitter:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DidechForRep

Party: Democrat

Office sought: State Representative

Age: 31

Family: Jen, wife

Captain Hook, dog

Occupation: Municipal Attorney

Education: Adlai E. Stevenson High School -- graduate

Roosevelt University -- Bachelor of Arts, History

Valparaiso University -- Law Degree

Civic involvement: Jewish Child & Family Services, advocate for children with special needs and their families

Elected offices held: Vernon Township Supervisor

Questions & Answers

Would you vote to approve a graduated income tax? If so, what qualifiers would you impose and where would you set the brackets? What would the top tax rate be?

My top priority is reducing the property tax burden on homeowners in our community. I will oppose any proposal that will raise taxes on middle-class families. In order to reduce property taxes without sacrificing funding for our schools, police and fire services, it will be vital to consider alternative sources of revenue such as a graduated income tax from billionaires like Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump. There are many details that will need to be negotiated with the legislature and the governor, and my commitment to my constituents is that I will not support any plan that would raise taxes on middle-class families in our community.

How big a problem is the level of property taxation in Illinois? If you view it as a problem, what should be done about it?

Out-of-control property taxes is one of the most pressing issues facing our community. Addressing this problem will require an all-of-the-above approach, much like the steps we took at Vernon Township where we successfully cut the property tax levy by 5% last year. First, we need to consolidate unnecessary units of local government and eliminate many of the 7,000 taxing bodies in Illinois. This year, I pushed to place a referendum on the ballot that will allow voters to consolidate the Vernon Township Road District, an unnecessary and archaic unit of government that wastes hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Second, we evaluated all contracts and expenditures to ensure that taxpayer money was only spent in a fair and responsible manner. Third, we ended the practice of awarding lucrative contracts to political insiders and family members of elected officials. By taking these steps, we were able to incur significant savings for taxpayers without reducing any of the vital services that are provided to the community. All local governments should take a similar approach to tighten their belts, pass balanced and responsible budgets, and lower their property tax levies.

Additionally, the state should pass a budget each year that fairly funds our local schools, which make up the vast majority of our property tax bills. I am supportive of increasing the amount of state funding each year that is provided to our local elementary and high schools. This additional funding will allow local school districts to reduce their property tax levies and alleviate the burdens caused by rising property tax bills.

What is your evaluation of Gov. Rauner's job performance? Please specify what you view as its highs and lows.

Everyone in Springfield deserves blame for the failure to pass a budget for two and a half years. I was disappointed that so many politicians on both sides of the aisle spent so much time arguing about their disagreements, instead of working together on the many issues where we can find common ground. I remain optimistic that bipartisan cooperation can be possible because of the successful passage of HB40, a bill that protects a woman's right to choose and ensures that every single woman in Illinois has access to safe, affordable reproductive healthcare.

What is your evaluation of Speaker Michael Madigan's (President John Cullerton's) job performance? If you voted for him for speaker (president) in the last legislative session, please explain your vote.

In order to begin solving these problems and moving the state forward, it will require putting aside partisan differences, working across the aisle, and a willingness to compromise. I am open to working with anyone from either party who is willing to help me cut taxes and get Illinois' fiscal house in order.

Should there be term limits for legislative leaders? If so, what would you do to make that happen? What other systemic changes should be made to strengthen the voice of individual legislators, limit the control of legislative leaders, encourage bipartisanship?

I would not support any proposal that would prevent our neighbors from continuing to elect representatives who share our values, such as Rep. Carol Sente. I was hopeful that Carol Sente would continue to serve in the legislature, and I am grateful that she is supporting my campaign. I am a strong supporter of redistricting reform because partisan politicians should not be responsible for redistricting where they can tip the scales to keep an entrenched party in power. I truly believe that government should work for us, and not the other way around. We have to take power away from career politicians and put it back in the hands of the voters where it belongs.

How concerned should we be about Illinois' population loss? What needs to be done to reverse the trend?

Property tax relief is vital to reversing the trend of Illinois' population loss. There are so many of our neighbors who are planning to move outside of Illinois because it continues to become more and more unaffordable to live here. I support freezing property taxes and increasing exemptions for middle-class homeowners, seniors and veterans. We should pass a balanced budget each year that responsibly funds higher education in our state, so more young adults will put down roots and begin their careers in Illinois.

Please provide one example that demonstrates your independence from your party.

I am pushing to consolidate the Vernon Township Road District, which would eliminate the position of Highway Commissioner that is currently held by long-time Democratic party official. This is a priority for me because this step will save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, even though it will put a political ally out of a job. As a state representative, I will continue to prioritize my community over any political party.

What other issues are important to you as a candidate for this office?

1) Women's Rights.

I believe that personal medical decisions should be made between women and their doctors, and I will fight to fully fund Planned Parenthood and protect women's right to choose. I will also fight for a budget that fully and reliably funds domestic violence shelters and other trauma informed support services. Illinois must invest in programs that will prioritize screening, detection and healing for children and families experiencing domestic violence.

I will encourage the governor to select women for at least half of the state's appointed positions and I will be a vocal advocate for women's equality in the workplace. We should strengthen Illinois's Equal Pay Act and enact tougher measures to keep workplaces free from harassment and discrimination.

2) Gun Safety.

We should enact commonsense reforms such as banning military-style assault rifles and "bump-stock" modifications like those used by the Las Vegas shooter that allowed the shooter to fire hundreds of bullets per minute. I also support proposals which would require all gun dealers in Illinois to be licensed by the state. Gun dealers must be held to responsible standards, such as ensuring they are conducting all necessary background checks, keeping their stores secure and stopping straw purchasers. I will also fight against Donald Trump's reckless proposal to arm teachers.

3) Healthcare.

With Donald Trump committed to rolling back the healthcare protections that our community relies upon, I support efforts that will ensure Illinois residents cannot be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition or be dropped from coverage when your care becomes too expensive.

In addition, here a few questions meant to provide more personal insight into you as a person:

What's the hardest decision you ever had to make?

The hardest decision I have ever had to make was when I was offered a job as legal counsel in the Illinois Senate. This was a great opportunity to give back to our state, but it required me to be in Springfield five days per week away from my wife, who is a teacher in Buffalo Grove. We decided together that I should accept the position, but only on a temporary basis and that I would seek employment locally after six months working in the Senate. This decision turned out positively, as I learned a significant amount about the legislative process that will help me be an effective state representative and I was quickly reunited with my family.

Who is your hero?

My hero is my wife, Jen. She suffered a stroke at the age of 21 and was left paralyzed. Her doctors recommended she not return to college as they felt she would not be able to complete her degree. Despite this recommendation, she dedicated herself to her recovery, re-learned how to walk, and did not miss a day of school. Now she is a 6th grade math teacher and is an inspiration to children throughout our community.

Each amendment in the Bill of Rights is important, but which one of those 10 is most precious to you?

The First Amendment. The freedom of speech, association, and to practice your religion without interference from the government is the root of our American values.

What lesson of youth has been most important to you as an adult?

Treat others the way that you would want to be treated. Every single person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, or who they love.

Think back to a time you failed at something. What did you learn from it?

I have learned that everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to not make the same mistake more than once. When a decision or action does not lead to your intended outcome, it is important to determine why you miscalculated and how you can approach the situation differently in the future.

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