The Republican Party has so badly debased itself in the Trump years, it will be a while before I will consider any of their candidates suitable for public office.
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As our Speaker of the House, Chris Welch, has reminded us by recently helping his wife become a judge, his sense of public duty has not grown along with his power.
His opponent in this race, however, is an official with Living Word, our local prosperity ministry - with the standard "parents' rights" playbook.
When it comes time to vote, I will choose one of them -- but only as my pen touches the paper.
State Representative, 7th Representative District 2 Year Term Vote For 1
Emanuel 'Chris' Welch Democratic 41
Eddie L. Kornegay, Jr. Republican 42
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All that's left are these two referenda.
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Referendum for November 8, 2022 - Gubernatorial General Election Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1970 ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENT The proposed amendment would add a new section to the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution that would guarantee workers the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively and to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions, and to promote their economic welfare and safety at work. The new amendment would also prohibit from being passed any new law that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety. At the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, you will be called upon to decide whether the proposed amendment should become part of the Illinois Constitution. For the proposed addition of Section 25 to Article I of the Illinois Constitution. Forest Preserve District, Increase Limiting Rate
I would certainly like to see all the corporate wage slaves - franchise food workers, for example - get living wages -- but I'm not too keen on expanding the power of the public service unions (police, teachers, etc)
So I am voting this one down.
Addendum: it has to incurred to me that the anti-amendment campaign is funded by the same wealthy individuals whose deceptive advertising recently killed proportional income tax rates in Illinois.
But the pro-amendment websites do not address the concerns which have been raised. Other than prohibiting right-to-week laws, they do not specify what else the amendment would accomplish.
If there were an amendment to prohibit right to-work, I would vote for it.
But this amendment seems both broader and hazier.
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS - CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION ONE-YEAR LIMITING RATE INCREASE ?Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.025% above the limiting rate for levy year 2020 for the purposes of conserving and restoring land to good health, protecting the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, providing natural flood water storage, protecting wildlife habitat, protecting forests to improve air quality, improving and maintaining existing forest preserves and trails of said District, and other lawful purposes of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, with public disclosure of expenditures, and be equal to 0.076% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2022??(1)The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recently extended limiting rate is $88,665,270 and the approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is approved is $132,128,637. (2) For the 2022 levy year the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single-family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $8.06.(3)If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2022 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law).
I couldn't find any arguments against this - so it boils down to whether I'm willing to pay more taxes for the Forest Preserves or not.
I love them -- so the answer is Yes.
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regarding the judges:
Judge, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District --- apparently all six candidates are well qualified - and having no additional information - I won't vote on this one
for retention: Ann Collins and Dan Pierce are thumbs down.
