One of the more prevalent local elections on the November 5th ballot is in the Illinois House 104th District; where Republican Brandun Schweizer is being challenged by Democrat Jarrett Clem. Schweizer is the United States Marine Corps Veteran who was appointed to the House seat when Mike Marron stepped down to take the Vermilion Advantage CEO position. Schweizer says, now he’s running for the spot. And he says, going through that the first time; yes, it’s a whole new ball game.
AUDIO: It feels completely different. At first, I was appointed, so now I’m working to let the people know what I’m about, what I want to do; to earn their vote and their trust.
Jarrett Clem is a southwest Champaign native who attended Parkland, and received an apprenticeship with the IBEW. Now, he’s the Business Manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 601. Outside of running for the Parkland Community College Board, this is Clem’s first election as well. He says he wants to focus on controlling families’ costs.
AUDIO: Things like health care, and health insurance, prescription drugs; affordable and accessible child care. I think the state can make a bigger investment in education; which could help not only to build a foundation for children, are young people; help people into the workforce.
Schweizer also has his eyes on the kids, especially early childhood development.
AUDIO: I personally think that the first few years of an individual’s life is the most critical. It’s where their brains are developing, where they can absorb so much. And we need to make sure that we’ve got the programs out there, to be able to put folks into those; so that can start learning their education a lot earlier, start reading a lot earlier.
One item on the statewide ballot this year is a non-binding referendum where anyone earning over $1 million would have a 3% surcharge applied to their income tax return, with the money raised being used for a property tax relief fund for state residents. Clem says, yes, high property taxes are a major problem. And this might be one idea, but it’s certainly not the only thing that can be done. And obviously, there is no easy answer.
AUDIO: And that’s one way to do it. But I think we need to look at other avenues. And we need to prioritize certain things. Again, for me, education is one of those top things. But when you do that; when you don’t have a balanced budget, there’s a potential that you’re going to have to cut, or increase efficiencies in other areas.
Schweizer also agrees there’s a high property taxes problem, but his answer on the non-binding referendum of taxing millionaires for a relief fund is an absolute “no.”
AUDIO: I do not see that passing. And I don’t think that it’s a good idea. Specifically because; one, there is nothing stating that that is actually going to be what takes place with that money. As of right now, it’s just saying that “this money could be used for this.” Not “will be used for this.”
Finally, what about the affect of the mood from the national election when it comes to local voters? Schweizer says, he’s asked about it a lot. But his response is always along the lines of, “I can’t control that, but I can definitely control what I do at home.”
AUDIO: There is nothing I can do about the national ticket. All I have is one vote just like everybody else. I try to represent myself the best way that I know how to do for me. That’s what I try to articulate to people when I’m at the doors talking to them. Regardless of the noise coming from the national ticket; I am running for myself, and what I believe in.
Clem says, with the negative mood from the presidential election, this is certainly not our country’s finest moment
AUDIO: I think it’s hurting turnout. I like to look at both sides of an issue; and not what the Democrats or Republicans want. But what the voters in the district, in the 104th, want. Because of the national election, I think we’re losing a lot of that moderatism in politics. And so, I hope that we’ll have a strong turnout, on both sides.
Early voting is underway; and Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.
