Dave Syverson: 2022 candidate for Illinois Senate 35th District
Bio
Party: Republican
Office sought: Illinois Senate 35th District
City: Cherry Valley
Age: 64
Occupation: Small business owner and citizen legislator
Previous offices held: None
Q&A
Q: How well did the Illinois government respond to the COVID-19 crisis? What do you think should be done differently?
Illinois handled COVID-19 very poorly. Our seniors were the last to be protected, yet should have been the first. They focused on closing local small businesses that were doing everything right and herded people into large box stores. For schools it is becoming very evident the cure had a more negative impact than the disease.
What I would have done differently was to put our focus on protecting those most at risk; getting needed supplies to those facilities first.
Q: What are the most important components that should be included in legislative ethics reform? What will you do to help them come to pass?
Change redistricting laws. Under current law legislators are more concerned with answering to leaders than to their constituents. They know it is the leader that draws the district lines that can protect the member. Legislators should not be allowed to draw their own districts.
I have sponsored legislation and supported the constitutional amendment change taking mapping away from legislators. Unfortunately the ruling party has stopped both initiatives.
Q: What should the state do to address the still-growing problems with its key pension programs?
This is very difficult due to the Courts limiting what the legislature can do. For sure the state should not undo the tier 2 program. The state also has to look closer at 401K plans for new hires.
Q: Describe at least two circumstances in which you have shown or would show a willingness to act independently of the direction or demands of party leadership.
I certainly stand up and oppose the Governor on a number of his major issues including defunding police, spending levels, and social and education issues. I am elected to serve the people of my district, not Chicago or any party. The good news is the Republican leader has a district similar to mine and we have similar views on what it takes to move Illinois forward. I can assure readers at least the Republicans in the Senate have never been told how to vote or been demanded to vote one way or another on an issue.
Q: What should lawmakers be doing to stem out-migration from Illinois?
This one is simple, just improve the jobs climate. Stop treating job creators as the bad guys. Companies have to compete nationally and internationally and when you tie their hands like they did with raising utility taxes, unemployment taxes, property taxes, and fees this year companies find it hard to compete. When companies leave so do jobs, when companies expand out of state jobs are not created here.
Q: Do you believe climate change is caused by human activity? What steps should government be taking to address the issue?
Clearly human activity plays a role. But it is a global issue and needs reasonable global solution. For the US to tie the hands of US companies and make US citizens pay the price but look the other way at the activities of China, India, Russia, and OPEC nations is foolish.
Q: The graduated income tax is designed with the intent to reduce taxes for 97 percent of Illinoisans. Do you believe that will happen? Why or why not? What assurances can you offer voters?
Has never worked elsewhere so would not work here. It would drive more business out of Illinois and in the end raise taxes on working families. Illinois does not have a revenue problem it has a spending problem.