She was a democratic state representative ( 2003-07 ) as well as the director of community affairs for the Village of Matteson, where she lives with her husband and three children. Currently, Kelly is chief of staff to Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. When it comes to politics, she said, "I have a proven track record of putting people first."

Windy City Times: In your opinion, what are the three biggest problems facing Illinois?

Robin Kelly: We need to find a way to fix our state's budget deficit because we can't keep borrowing. We need to make Illinois more business friendly so we can create more jobs. And, we have to try to instill more trust in our voters by showing that we really mean it when we demand ethics reform.

WCT: Illinois in the midst of a budget crisis. Do you support an income tax increase to help balance the budget?

RK: When I was in the legislature I was a proponent of an income tax increase. Right now, however, I think we need to tighten our belts more in government agencies before an income tax increase. We also need to look at how we can bring more revenue into the state. Look, if we've exhausted all other options, then yes, I think the legislature should consider an income tax increase. Obviously, we can't keep borrowing. On the other hand, this is the hardest time to raise taxes, especially for those people who are already struggling.

WCT: You say we need to "tighten our belts" in order to reduce spending. How do you plan to cut government spending on some of the bigger programs in the state, like healthcare for state employees, and our state's public pension system?

RK: As far as healthcare is concerned, we do need to trim the fat. However, before we change anything for our frontline employees, we must first look at what all of our elected officials are getting. Trimming the fat should start at the top with our elected officials, not lower level employees. Weather we're talking about healthcare or asking our current employees to contribute more to their pensions—and I know our pension system is a mess—we must first start from the top. This is more up to the legislature than it is to the Treasurer. Regardless, if I'm going to ask any member of my staff, or any state, employee, to do something like pay more for healthcare and require higher pension contributions, I am certainly going to do it first.

WCT: As of late, Illinois has received a lot of national attention due to unethical behavior by some of its elected officials, namely convicted former Governor George Ryan, and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who will face ethics charges later this year. Our current treasurer and your boss, Alexi Giannoulias, prior to being elected, was accused of engaging in questionable business practices when he was president of his family's Broadway Bank. How do respond to voters' concerns that you, as Mr. Giannoulias' current chief of staff, may not be far enough removed from, what many believe is, a culture of corruption in Illinois?

RK: We've all heard those accusations before. Let me put it like this: That is not the person I know. All that came out when he was running for office, when he wasn't a party pick. Those accusations were all over the state and, despite that, he handily beat both of his opponents. As for his personal life, I didn't dig deep into his background back then because all that was said when he was running for treasurer. At that time, I was a state representative. I was then, and always have been, my own person. Also, for all the negative press that Illinois has received because of unethical behavior by some of it's elected officials, there are many more really good elected officials. I think you have to look at the fact that, as Treasurer, he has done a very good job.

WCT: The Bright Start education savings program was created and is administered by the office of the state treasurer. Recently, your Democratic opponent, Justin Olberman, criticized your office for mismanaging the program's funds, saying, "Fund managers were dealing in mortgage-backed securities and other high-risk products. If indeed Kelly was unaware that Bright Start funds were being invested in this manner, then it appears she did not perform the due diligence that Illinois families were promised from the Treasurer's office." He also accuses your office of trying to cover-up the total loss in Core Bond from these risky investments. How do you respond?

RK: My opponent claims that we tried to cover up facts and that is, simply, not true. He's also saying that participants affected by this lost half of their money. Again, that is not true. This is a clear misrepresentation of the facts. Under Bright Start we have over 192,000 accounts. This affected 2.5 percent of the families. Of the 21 funds, if you happened to be in that one fund—and you were in it 100 percent—you lost 38 percent of your money, not half of your money. This is not to diminish the pain felt by 2.5 percent of the families. No one lost half of the money.

Also, despite these improper investments by and individual at Oppenheimer, our office caught this problem before it got worse. This was not just an Illinois problem either. And, because we caught it, we led the way for five other states that might have otherwise been affected worse. That individual, who improperly invested those funds, no longer works for that firm. Bright Start is still a good program. It has some of the lowest fees anywhere. They give $3.5 million each year in scholarships, and you have to remember that it was one fund, out of 21 funds, that was mismanaged. Of course we exercised due diligence. We caught the problem and led the way to fixing it.

WCT: What is your position on same-sex marriage vs. civil unions?

RK: I'm fine with gay marriage. I also recognize that it isn't up to me to decide what is best for all people. What I mean is that I know some gay people who favor civil unions as the most viable way to, ultimately, achieve marriage equality. I also know a lot of gay folks who feel that there should just be gay marriage. I get that, as much as I can get it, but I don't think it should be all or nothing. If it looks like gay marriage wouldn't make it through [ the legislature ] and civil unions would, then I think we should go with civil unions. Once people get comfortable with that, then, let's take it to the next step. I have gay family members and I know that this issue isn't fair. I don't want to see it be gay marriage or nothing at all. We need something and I would support civil unions, or gay marriage; whichever one will pass first.

WCT: Why are you the best candidate for this position, and what message do you have for voters?

RK: In me, voters will have an ethical, honest person. I have a proven track record of putting people first. This office requires continued transparency because, as treasurer, we invest $14 billion each day of taxpayers' money. As chief of staff to our current Treasurer I have helped contribute to the success of this office. We have responsibly managed and invested taxpayer's money with more transparency than ever before.

We are also part of the financial advisement to legislators and the budgeters in the Senate and the House who make critical decisions with our tax dollars. We also have economic programs from this office that benefit everyone all over this state, from financial education to economic development programs. On that front, one of the programs I am trying to push is more economic education in Illinois schools so that we're raising a generation of financially literate citizens. This will help curb the number of people experiencing foreclosure in the future, as well as, help small businesses. We work with Illinois farmers and help provide low interests loans to help them buy the equipment and livestock they need to keep our state agriculturally viable. All these things create jobs, sustain jobs, keep people fed, and educated so that they can be productive and healthy members of our society. This office keeps your money secure and growing. As chief of staff to the treasurer and as a state representative I have worked very hard to help make this office as transparent and accessible to our citizens as it ever has been, and I will continue to do that if I am elected.

Visit www.robinfortreasurer.com .