Michele Hunter: 2022 candidate for Illinois House 54th District
Bio
Party: Republican
Office sought: Illinois House 54th District
City: Arlington Heights
Age: 53
Occupation: Attorney, PLRB
Previous offices held: None
Q&A
Q: What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? What is your position on term limits in general and for legislative leaders specifically?
A: I support term limits for Legislators and Leadership. I also support a total ban on former members lobbying the state government. Michael Madigan was a prime example of the need for term limits and particularly term limits on leadership positions. It is a ticking time bomb of corruption.
I am a supporter of requiring balanced budgets as well as a zero-based budgeting plan that makes sure that all spending is justified. In Illinois the redundancies in government should be addressed with a consolidation study and plan for implementation. All tax increases should require a super majority in the legislature. Whoever is Governor should also have a line-item veto power.
Q: Federal assistance has enabled the state to make important advances toward improving its budget. What will you do to ensure these advances continue when the federal aid is gone?
A: The money from the Federal Government has been wasted and not used to properly secure our budget situation. State Government is addicted to spending money and once again we have squandered an opportunity to really make a difference with our budget. The Governor points to the improved bond ratings but it will be short lived without real systemic reform.
Q: To what extent are you happy or unhappy with the evidence-based model for education funding now in place in Illinois? How would you define "adequate" state funding for Illinois schools and what will you do to promote that?
A: Funding levels for education have far outpaced inflation and unfortunately our test scores for our children continue to decline. I support taking a serious look at School Choice reform that is occurring across the
country. Parents need to have options for the education of their children and a system of vouchers could be beneficial.
The pandemic has taught us that educational monopolies are a threat to your child's education and parents have begun to move their children to private schools or home schooling. My concern about the reliance on state funding is the mandates that follow. Local control of schools is a more equitable way of managing schools that represent the interests of the local community.
Q: Do you believe elections in Illinois are free and fair? What changes, if any, are needed regarding election security and voter access?
A: There are no voter access issues and in fact the state has now given people the option to permanently opt in for a vote by mail. There are many people who are concerned about the details of that program and other areas where ballots are handled. The state should make an effort to assure people about the integrity of our voting system.
Q: How well has Illinois responded to Supreme Court indications that it considers abortion, gay marriage and other social issues to be state, not federal, responsibilities? What if anything needs to be done in these areas and what would you do to make your vision come to pass?
A: The Supreme Court decision had no effect on abortion in Illinois. States have been officially charged with the handling of abortion laws and Illinois has some of the most extreme laws regarding abortion. In Illinois you can have an abortion at all stages of pregnancy and if your teenage daughter wants to get an abortion and parents are no longer notified. The Land of Lincoln is now a destination for abortions as other states pass laws that restrict abortions.