PEORIA -- There's nothing like a candidate forum to reveal who knows the issues and who will honestly answer the questions. That's what happened at the Greater Peoria League of Women Voters candidate forum on Sept. 25.
In between the boring, predictable responses, flashes of truth revealed the best qualified candidates, those with their heads on straight who have studied the issues and deserve to serve. Who were they?
Illinois Rep. Mike Smith, a Democrat who is seeking reelection to his 9th term in the 91st District, was the outstanding candidate. He's articulate, experienced, knows the issues and isn't afraid to answer the questions honestly.When the candidates were asked how they felt about the Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady who has said he is "intrigued" by the notion of turning Illinois into a right-to-work state, only Smith responded honestly.
Smith opposes that and wasn't afraid to say so. "I do not support right to work legislation. I'm concerned about Brady's comments."
He continued, adding that labor unions have built the middle class and helped make Illinois a prosperous state, whereas "corporate greed" that wants "to pad executive salaries" while workers suffer, is not what the state needs. "With cheaper labor we get less quality. I support the labor laws of this state."
Compare that with the comment of his opponent, Republican Mike Unes, an East Peoria City Council member. He never answered the question, but instead said, "we have to take a common sense approach to this and discuss important issues." He then went on to mention merging the five state pension funds, which was not part of the question.
Illinois Rep. Jehan Gordon, a Democrat seeking her second term in the 92nd District, also somewhat ducked the question but responded "we have to ensure workers are skilled, have gone through (union) apprenticeship programs. I do believe we would open ourselves up to liability issues on quality of workmanship. We have a good relationship between workers and management."
Her opponent, Peoria City Council member Jim Montelongo, a Republican, also ducked, even lower. He claimed not to know what Brady had said, then added, "you can see where jobs are leaving our state, Caterpillar is opening shops somewhere else. We need to understand why this is. I would be open to taking a look at how to help employers stay here in Illinois."
Montelongo's low point, however, came when he and the others were asked about education funding. "I don't understand the whole funding question," he admitted.
Gordon, with only 19 months in office, was generally poised and articulate, and able to give specific answers to the questions. She talked about restoring funding for Bright Futures, an early childhood program whose state payments were cut 89 percent. Illinois is "a national leader" in preschool education, she said.
The other three candidates also agreed this is a vital area that must be funded -- stands that contradict the two Republicans who expressed concerns about a balanced state budgets, no new taxes, and cuts that need to be made.
When asked for specifics about cuts, however, only Montelongo had an example. He said a state worker told him the state is paying too much for garbage cans, which could be bought cheaper at WalMart.
Everyone agreed that bipartisanship is need in Springfield, and said central Illinois legislators usually work together. But Gordon pointed out that that "one Republican was honest" and worked against the party's line, and was kicked out of a leadership position as a result.
"When people put their legislative careers over the well being of communities, you see what you have now," she said.
An important dividing line between the Democrats and Republicans, their stands on social issues, never came up. Smith and Gordon are pro-choice, and support reproductive rights for women.
Unes and Montelongo say they are "pro-life" but seem unable to understand the implications of that stand.
Afterward Montelongo said it means he does not support tax funding for abortions, but has not studied abortion issues further and could not say whether he would vote to make abortion a crime if the state could do so.
Unes was equally vague. "I'm pro-life except for the life of the mother, rape and incest," he said. "I would support outlawing abortion." But he would not say whether than meant criminal penalties for women and doctors, the obvious result of "outlawing" abortion.
The two candidates for a 10th Circuit judicial position also spoke. They are Republican John Vespa and Democrat Chris Spanos. Both are well spoken with plenty of experience as lawyers.
Spanos has been recommended by the Illinois Bar Association poll of lawyers, an anonymous poll, while Vespa has not.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Comments