Linda Holmes: 2022 candidate for Illinois Senate District 42
Bio
Party: Democratic
Office sought: Illinois Senate District 42
City: Aurora
Age: 63
Occupation: State Senator
Previous offices held: State Senator District 42 since 2007; Kane County Board, 2004-06
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 believe elections create term limits. The average length of time someone serves in the Illinois Senate is under 8 years. I voted for legislative leader term limits.
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: We made sure with additional one time money it did not go to supporting anything that would require additional funds. In other words, we used one time money for one time expenses. We also have a billion dollars in the rainy day fund.
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: The model put schools on a more even playing field regardless of income disparity or ZIP code. We have been continuing to increase education funding, in fact our last budget invests an additional $350 million into our students' success through the evidence-based funding model for K-12 education.
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 believe they are free and fair. I will support any initiatives that seek to expand access or protect election security.
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: Illinois anticipated this might happen. We passed legislation to protect a woman's right to choose. I have supported any and all measures protecting a woman's right to choose since I was elected. I am currently serving on a working group looking to see if our laws need to be strengthened.