2008 General Election: 42nd State Senate District

Linda Holmes, 49, a Democrat, is a first-term incumbent. Her challenger is Terri Ann Wintermute, 50, a Republican. Holmes bested Wintermute during the 2006 General Election. The 42nd District includes portions of Kane, Kendall, DuPage and Will counties.

Linda Holmes
Why are you running for this office?
While I accomplished much in my two-years of office there is much more to be done to move Illinois forward. I have spent the past two years working to get more green initiatives in the state and as energy prices continue to increase I will continue to work to provide green energy initiatives. I sponsored laws to provide grants for cities to build green buildings that conserve power and emit less pollution. I also sponsored laws to crack down on sexual predators who use the internet to prey on children and worked with the Attorney General to create a cyber-crimes database to track websites used by sex offenders.

The General Assembly has been unable to reach agreement on changing the school funding formula. Should it be changed? If so, how? What can/should be done to aid schools that don't have a large property-tax base?
As long as we rely on property taxes to fund schools, we will continue to see inequity in the funding system. I like many others, agree that we need to move away from funding schools with property taxes. I cannot however, support an increase in other taxes to fund our schools due to the hardship of the economy.

Should the state hold a constitutional convention? Why or why not?
No. A constitutional convention is both costly to taxpayers and would allow little else policy to be accomplished, such as important education reform.

With all the power the four legislative leaders possess, how can you be an effective lawmaker? Do you support your party's leader in the Senate?
I have been an independent-minded lawmaker and have worked across partisan lines man times with House Minority Leader Tom Cross and others to pass legislation for the 42nd Senate District as well as legislation that benefits all of Illinois. The leader of my caucus is retiring and I am watching and listening closely to the several candidates who hope to replace him. My top priority in voting for a new Senate President will be how in-tune the person is to the needs of the suburbs.

How should the state fund a capital-construction program?
I have supported expansions in gaming as a way to fund a capital-construction program. I have also supported the lease of the lottery as another funding option. That lease, however, had safeguards to protect funding for education provided by the lottery.

Do you favor recall of constitutional officers? Why or why not?
Yes. I voted for SJRCA 70, which would allow voters to recall their state and local elected officials. If an elected official is not doing their job, I believe voters should have the ability to recall them.

Do you support an expansion of state health care?
I believe that in order to reign in the high costs of health care, we need to provide coverage, so the costs of the uninsured will not drive up costs for everyone. I support permitting small businesses to pool in their resources into the same health insurance plan. I have also worked locally to solve the health care crisis by coordinating specialty health care services, pharmaceutical drug assistance and diagnostic testing for individuals with limited or no insurance (PA 95-645).

What can be done at the state level to further combat gangs and gun-related violence?
First of all, we need to enforce the gun laws that we have on the books. More funding and specialized training for law enforcement on state and local levels so coordination efforts can be taken to a higher level should also be explored.

What would you change about the state's budget and spending habits?
I would like to see projects in the budget line-itemed so that taxpayers can see exactly how their dollars are spent. Education funding should be dedicated in the budget, just as pension funding is also dedicated.

What are the other issues affecting residents in your district that you'd like to see addressed in Springfield?
I will again introduce legislation to develop alternative and renewable energy options that will create jobs, lower gas prices and clean up our environment as I have done the past two years. (SB 1559, SB 2570 & SB 2861)

I also look forward to passing a capital program that will bring economic growth, infrastructure improvements and funding for school construction back to the collar counties.

I will take action to reduce violence in the area. I was successful this past year in passing legislation which allows courts to order a defendant, who has been placed on supervision for assault or aggravated assault or convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery, to participate in a Partner Abuse Intervention Program, at the expense of the defendant. (PA 95-0188) I look forward to taking these issues even further in the upcoming years.

Terri Ann Wintermute
Why are you running for this office?
I am seeking election to the Illinois Senate because I believe I am the best candidate to represent the residents of the 42nd Illinois Senate District because of my diverse background as a public servant, mother, and business-owner.

The 95th General Assembly has been a lesson in "what NOT to do". In-fighting, gridlock, lack of ethics reform, double-talk on pay raises, we need fresh faces in Springfield or next session will simply be more of the same. I am planning to assist with that goal.

I have no grandiose political ambitions. I don't have a political agenda. I simply enjoy public service and I hope to be given the chance to improve Illinois for my children and everyone's children. Almost every day I ask myself, "what Illinois will we leave to our children?" Will it be a State with employment opportunities, will it be a State with its fiscal house in order? I want my children and grandchildren to be proud to call Illinois their home.

The years I served as a Township Clerk, County Board member, Legislative Assistant and Economic Development Coordinator gave me a broad perspective of public service. I believe that my background in Township, County, Municipal, and State government will help me better analyze proposed legislation regulating and/or impacting these units of government.

My experience in our family business has afforded me the opportunity to gauge how a decision in Springfield can impact business, and their employees. Meeting a payroll every week is an experience I wish every Legislator could have. You can take business classes in college, but there is nothing like a "capital call" to help you fully understand the responsibility of business ownership.

The General Assembly has been unable to reach agreement on changing the school funding formula. Should it be changed? If so, how? What can/should be done to aid schools that don't have a large property-tax base?
As I talk to residents in my Senate District, rising property taxes remain a number one concern of residents. Seniors citizens, who paid off their homes years ago, now find themselves needing to set aside the equivalent of a monthly mortgage payment to pay their annual property taxes.

To be brutally honest, many fear that additional monies collected by the State for education, will end up being raided or re-directed elsewhere. A failsafe system or education lockbox will need to be established in order for a shift toward non-property tax sources to work.

I will consider school funding legislation that:
A. Increases the State's funding of public schools while not harming any school financially.
B. Has an equitable offset from property taxes to income taxes and does not place a higher burden on residential property owners.
C. Local control by a locally-elected school board is not impacted.

Should the state hold a constitutional convention? Why or why not?
The last Constitutional Convention in Illinois was held in 1970.

The updated 1970 Constitution states that a "call" for a convention must be placed on the ballot every twenty years (1968, 1988, 2008...). So this issue is scheduled to be on Illinois ballots in November.

At this point in time, the average voter does not understand the issue more or less the pros and cons of holding a Constitutional Convention.

I researched and learned that the last convention in 1969 - 70 cost about $14 million. I then calculated what $14 million would be worth in today's dollars and a good estimate is $82 million. (source: westegg.com) That is a lot of money, but $82 million relatively speaking is not a lot of money to host an assembly of this magnitude. The decision is up to the voters, as it should be.

My personal opinion is that a Constitutional Convention is not needed at this time. I believe the 1970 Illinois Constitution is a good document. Illinois voters also have the ability to place a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot without the need for a Constitutional Convention. When public opinion is more formed on issues such as Merit Selection of Judges, School Financing, etc., that amendment can be placed on the ballot then.

As a voter, I will not support a Constitutional Convention. As an involved citizen and precinct committeeperson I will present the pros and cons to voters and they will make the ultimate decision.

With all the power the four legislative leaders possess, how can you be an effective lawmaker? Do you support your party's leader in the Senate?
It is a Legislator's responsibility to be a strong voice for their District. During my ten years on the Will County Board, I was known as an outspoken leader and advocate for my District. The Public Works Committee Chair of Will County once "roasted" me at a County Board meeting when they completed one of my adopted projects. Mr. Singer told the County Board and public (tongue in cheek) how he would miss my appearance at most of his committee meetings and how he would miss my late-night phone calls inquiring on the project.

In my opinion these four legislative leaders have more power than they should, especially the two Democrat Leaders. With Democrat control of Springfield too many good pieces of Legislation have been held up in the Rules Committee. But we need to keep in mind that people do not gain power unless others allow it. I believe legislation limiting the number of years a Legislator could serve in Leadership would be a good idea.

When my opponent cast her first vote as a State Senator for Emil Jones to be elected Senate President, she became an enabler for Governor Blagojevich and all of his bad public policies. When she won this office in 2006, Governor Blagojevich's Campaign Chairman donated over $500,000 to her campaign. She has voted with Governor Blagojevich's agenda over 90% of the time. These are not good policies for our communities.

No one has asked me to support them for Leader. I am focused on winning my campaign for State Senate. When I do consider a candidate for Leader, I will evaluate who best can help me address the issues and priorities of the 42nd Senate District.

How should the state fund a capital-construction program?
While I do favor a capital construction program to pay for new school construction and for infrastructure, I believe we need to find creative ways to pay for these improvements, perhaps through the sale of the state's 10th casino license to be used for a gaming facility in the city of Chicago.

Do you favor recall of constitutional officers? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Elected officials need to be held accountable every day they are in office, not just once every few years when they are up for election. Sometimes voters simply make a mistake and elect someone to a position that they are not very well suited for.

Do you support an expansion of state health care?
Illinois can start to curb the rising costs of healthcare by placing a limit on non-economic damages in malpractice suits. Additionally, coverage mandates on health insurance policies increase costs and also increase the number of non-insured across the State. A simple rule of physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - so is the case with healthcare unfortunately. Illinois needs to carefully consider any coverage mandates placed on health insurance policies.

I sat in the Bolingbrook Hospital emergency room for over 6 hours with my son this past July. There were people there with everything from broken bones to sore throats. I must say it is a sad state of affairs when our country's emergency rooms have to bear this type of burden.

As an employer I recognize how expensive health insurance can be, but my employees deserve to have good health insurance. I come from the school of thought that happy employees are productive employees. We should turn to the unions, the business community, and the health insurance companies to work together to formulate a pool that allows small business to maximize their dollars, while at the same time, allowing insurance companies to spread their risk over a larger pool of people.

Healthcare in Illinois, and America for that matter should not be a privilege, quality healthcare, and affordable insurance should an attainable goal, not a pipe dream. This is not attainable without all parties, business, labor, insurance companies, and the government coming together ready to compromise and negotiate.

What can be done at the state level to further combat gangs and gun-related violence?
I believe keeping inmates in prison longer to serve their sentences, increasing sexual predator penalties, doubling distance requirements for sex offenders to stay away from schools, using GPS (global positioning) to monitor the location of sex offenders, increasing grants for after-school programs and making it a felony to deface property will help our local police departments combat gang crimes.

What would you change about the state's budget and spending habits?
As our household budgets have less and less discretionary funds, it is imperative that government starts holding the line on taxes. With gas prices at record highs, the housing market in a free fall, government should be doing its best to assist taxpayers by not further burdening the families of Illinois.

There has been talk among Democrats about implementing some form of a new tax to balance the state's $2 billion deficit and there has been discussion of creating a new revenue stream to pay for a capital construction plan to repair our state's roads and bridges.

I do not favor any new taxes, sales or income taxes, to balance the state budget. It's time for Illinois to make some tough choices to bring our state's books back into balance. Let's look at reducing the size of state government before creating new taxes to build new revenue streams. I believe we need to stop creating new programs at the state level and return Illinois to a state of fiscal responsibility.

While I do favor a capital construction program to pay for new school construction and for infrastructure, I believe we need to find creative ways to pay for these improvements, perhaps through the sale of the state's 10th casino license to be used for a gaming facility in the city of Chicago.

What are the other issues affecting residents in your district that you'd like to see addressed in Springfield?
1. I will work with business leaders and others in the State to improve Illinois' ability to attract and retain employers and create additional jobs. Improving our economy and attracting jobs to Illinois will be my number one goal.
2. Introduce Legislation to reconstitute the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. After watching this process and how they handled the applications for Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and Edward's Plainfield Hospital, I believe a more market-based approach is needed. While I still believe the Board serves a purpose, I believe its scope should be reduced. I also believe that key staff who are remnants of the Stuart Levine era should be transferred to other duties.
3. Work to support a Capital Bill that will improve our roadways, build schools, allow Illinois to receive matching funds from the Federal government, and put people to work and stimulate our sagging economy.