Peter Pettorini: 2022 candidate for Illinois House District 61

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: Illinois House District 61

City: Lindenhurst

Age: 50

Occupation: Teacher, Round Lake High School

Previous offices held: Millburn Board of Education

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: Politicians need to stop playing party politics and representing special interests and instead listen to the people they're supposed to represent. Politicians will campaign on not playing politics, but when they get to Springfield, they immediately start toeing the party line and voting how political special interests demand. It's time to send a teacher down to Springfield who will fight to make people proud to live in Illinois again. I'm a teacher so I'm used to dealing with children and setting a standard.

When it comes to term limits for elected officials and legislative leaders, I am supportive of them and do not believe a politician should be in control for a lifetime. I also believe fair maps, an independent process for redistricting, is vital because politicians shouldn't be choosing their voters.

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: Federal funding was just a Band-Aid for Illinois' fiscal problems, and those problems are felt most by working families who need relief from high taxes. Politicians in Springfield clearly don't understand all the money they spend in government comes from the bank of us - it's the workers and families in this state who pay in the form of the highest overall tax burden in the country.

It's time we stopped these politicians and their overspending. Politicians are like irresponsible teenagers with their parent's credit card, spending with no thought as to how they're going to pay when the bill comes due.

As state representative, I will push for pension reform in Springfield that fulfills the promises we've made to public workers while making the system affordable for Illinoisans. And I will work to return Illinois to being a hub for business and industry so we can create good paying jobs and opportunities for our residents.

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: Evidence-based funding is a step in the right direction, but it only touched the surface of what needs to be done to ensure our kids get the education they deserve.

I've been a teacher for 13 years and have served on my local school board of education for the past 2 years. As a teacher and leader in education, I can unfortunately report the education our kids are getting in Illinois is not great. Our kids deserve better.

We need to return to a rigorous curriculum that sets high expectations for students. We must teach our kids the value of graduating high school regardless of their path beyond high school. And we need to spend less on administration so we can put more into classrooms educating our children and supporting our teachers.

Send a teacher to Springfield because I will fight to ensure our kids get the education they deserve.

Q: Do you believe elections in Illinois are free and fair? What changes, if any, are needed regarding election security and voter access?

A: I do - we are fortunate to have a team of dedicated election professionals and volunteers helping to ensure our elections are free and fair. I don't see a need for further changes, but if other legislators present laws that strengthen election security or improve voter access and my district supports the changes, I will gladly work with my fellow lawmakers in Springfield.

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: My passion has been in education where I've been a teacher and a respected leader in the field. The expertise on the issues I'm running on has been formed from being in education for over a decade. I have been working with parents throughout my district to strengthen our schools. This is where I saw firsthand many of the challenges facing Illinois families today: rising crime, skyrocketing property taxes, and working families struggling to pay bills. This is what inspired me to run to represent my community. When I'm in Springfield, I'm going to focus on what I know how to do: fight to give working families relief from high taxes, make our neighborhoods safe, and ensure our kids get the education they deserve. That will be my focus as state representative.