Following is a letter from Adam Robinson, winner of the Republican primary for the 7th Senate District. Robinson is running against State Sen. Heather Steans and requested that this letter be published in Lake Effect News. We are happy to comply.
Adam Robinson, Republican challenger for the 7th Senate District.
To my friends and neighbors in the Illinois 7th Senate District,
First and foremost, please join me in congratulating State Senator Heather Steans for her win in yesterday’s Democratic primary election. I would also like to take a moment to congratulate Jim Madigan for his vigorous and people-centric effort to win the nomination. Both campaigns fought hard, and the community benefitted from their exchange of ideas.
In November, you’ll choose your next State Senator.
For the first time in a generation, the IL-7th Senate seat will be legitimately contested in the general election. As an independent-minded, fiscally responsible, and socially moderate candidate for this office, I am honored to have the opportunity to earn your trust over the next nine months. The days of the Chicago political machine being able to take your vote for granted are over.
The citizens in our community are hurting. Jobs are scarce, and the ineptitude of our state government has led Illinois to the brink of financial insolvency. Meanwhile, your elected officials enrich themselves and their insider friends with fat pensions and lucrative government jobs. Budgets for entitlement programs explode, while Springfield balances the budget on the backs of those without political clout.
In short, the system is broken. But I’m running to change that.
I believe in my heart that there are things upon which we can all agree, regardless of political affiliation:
- People come first, always.
- We should be creating jobs, not destroying jobs.
- Elected officials should be honest and forthright. No exceptions. Ever.
- Our public education system is a mess, and it’s failing our kids. It’s time to address this problem with actions, not words.
- Our government must ensure equality for all citizens, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation.
- The level of violent crime in our community is simply unacceptable. We need more dollars for public safety, now.
- Our social service programs should focus on our neediest residents, extending a helping hand to these individuals and families.
Finding common ground – that’s what my campaign is all about. I don’t care about political ideology, I care about good ideas. And I’m prepared to listen to and act upon good ideas, no matter the source. You deserve nothing less from the people whom you elect to serve your interests.
How’s that for a change?
So, here’s to you, the residents of the IL-7th, and to a new beginning for our community. Together, let’s unleash the potential of our neighborhoods and work together to solve the enormous challenges before us. Let’s find common ground.
It would be my great honor to serve as your next State Senator, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.
Sincerely,
Adam Robinson
Candidate for Illinois State Senate, 7th District
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This isn’t journalism, it’s stenography.
Um, yeah, that’s what “an open letter” generally means. Why is this concept so troublesome for you?
Funny. Nowhere in his letter or on his website does he identify himself as a Republican. What’s he got to hide?
Toto,
Thanks for reading my letter to the community. I’m working hard to make this race about ideas, not ideology. Yep, I’m running on the Republican side of the ballot (what’s there to hide?). I’m hopeful that people will tune out the noise and take the time to actually think about the elected officials that govern our district, regardless of political party. Let the best ideas win. Aren’t we ready for a real dialogue, for once?
I’d be happy to meet and speak with you about my ideas for improving our neighborhoods and our state. You can reach me at adam@AdamRobinsonForSenate.com, and I look forward to your additional comments.
Best,
Adam
Then start out by telling us how you intend to pay for government. Afterall, we are the ones that will be paying your salary and benefits if you are elected. Tell us how you intend to pay for your ideas. If you give us the same Republican BS on lower taxes, tell us what programs you will cut. Its not a new idea without putting it on the table and saying what you will tax or what you will cut to pay for the new idea.
Toto,
You’re right to demand details, and I hope the rest of the district starts asking the same questions! While this forum isn’t the right place to provide a line-by-line explanation of everything I want to accomplish for our community, I will address a few of the things that you’ve said.
The fundamental question is this: What functions of government do we want to pay for? You call attention to benefits for elected officials, and that’s a big area of concern for me. I believe that elected officials should have a shelf life; when they stay in their role in perpetuity, they entrench themselves in virtually “un-losable” districts and aren’t accountable for doing what’s right. There are two things we can do to address this issue. First, I support amending our state constitution to enact term limits for elected officials, giving two full 4-year terms for State Senators and four full 2-year terms for State Representatives. Second, I support changing the state pension system for elected state officials, to reduce the incentive to stay in their role. “Get in, get done what you were elected to get done, and then go back home” is my view on how elected officials should serve their constituents.
Regarding tax cuts, it’s true that I think that our high tax burden is killing jobs in our state. I think we should cut some of our taxes, and do so in a responsible fashion. But this idea is not a “Republican” one. As a matter of fact, John F. Kennedy, whom many people consider to be the architect of the modern Democratic Party, vigorously pushed tax cuts at the Federal level during his first term as President as a way to spur GDP growth. I propose to do the same thing here in our state. A good idea is a good idea, regardless of which party you affiliate with.
Over the past ten years, our state’s budget has exploded by 40%, while we lost approximately 725,000 residents. With those residents went about $3B in tax receipts. We grew government, lost residents, and we’re on the brink of financial collapse as a result. I blame both parties for where we’re at. Nobody made the tough choices.
Bottom line – I will nurture the programs that help our neediest residents and impact lives in meaningful ways, and I will cut waste and duplicity where I see it. For my 14-point plan for balancing our state budget, please see my response to the Tribune Editorial board at http://elections.chicagotribune.com/editorial/adam-robinson/.
We can pay for the programs we need while reducing, over time, the tax burden on our residents. The alternative is more of what we’ve been getting, which is irresponsible government spending, underfunded social programs, higher taxes, and insolvency.
Again, if you’d like to chat in more detail, I’d be happy to do so. adam@AdamRobinsonForSenate.com
Best,
Adam
“First, I support amending our state constitution to enact term limits for elected officials, giving two full 4-year terms for State Senators and four full 2-year terms for State Representatives”
Without an amendment to the US Constitution, a term limit law would only last as long as it would take to challenge it.
And it will be challenged.
With that in mind, how would you be able to accomplish air-tight term limit legislation?
I checked your link and had a few questions which I’m sure LEN’s readers would be interested in which weren’t quite addressed:
1 – Recalls: I agree with your stance on allowing recalls for state-level officials, however, I do think that the subjects of recall should be expanded to ALL elected officials within the state; local and county.
Thoughts?
2 – TIFs: I saw your thoughts on “Open Meetings”; however, what are your thoughts on taming this wasteful and dangerous beast?
Oh .. and, Toto – check a lot of the political advertising that you may see either in print, or on TV. Some candidates won’t put party affiliation into their ads.
I neither like, nor condone it (as it is unseemly) – but it’s a common trick.
Adam, I would hope that you don’t follow suit.
Great, free ad space for a stealth republican. He’s not “ideological”. Sure he isn’t. But he’s running as a republican, the party of teabagging, anti-gay, anti-science, pro-big business rightwingers. Nope, nothing “ideological” there. Just how stupid does this guy think Chicago voters are?
@Xeric. You seem angry and out of touch with reality. I think you have to look at anybody from outside the political machine, that wants to change Illinois and has ideas to fix the disastrous fiscal situation caused by aforementioned machine. Chicago voters would be smart to at least listen to him and make their decisions based on what he has to say. BTW, I definitely like the idea of term limits.