Two openly lesbian candidates, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy and challenger Paula Basta, faced off at Mary's Attic in Andersonville March 16 to debate key issues in the race for the Democratic 14th District state representative seat in the March 20 primary.
Cassidy was appointed to represent the North Side district in April 2011, following incumbent Harry Osterman's election to the Chicago City Council.
Basta runs the city's busiest senior center, the Northeast (Levy) Regional Senior Center, and served on the board of Equality Illinois for seven years.
During the debate, which was hosted by Gay Chicago TV, both progressive candidates touted their long-time involvement with activism and the LGBT community, as well as fiscal responsibility, senior citizen advocacy and small business solutions.
Gay Chicago TV's anchor and producer of the "Gay Report" TJ Chernick, a Windy City Gay Idol past winner, moderated.
When asked why each candidate should be elected, Cassidy pointed to her experience as the incumbent as well as the many tough legislative issues she's already picked up, like battling anti-choice bills.
"Look at what I've already done. I've hit the ground running with a very aggressive legislative agenda," said Cassidy.
Basta described herself as a political ingénue who understands the real world repercussions of failed government because of her work in a senior center.
Fashioned after a bill already enacted in California, Basta promised to introduce legislation to enumerate LGBT seniors as a special population to help them better access city and statewide services.
"The bill would heighten the profile of LGBT seniors in a way that no other law or legislation could. It puts them on the radar of the mainstream agencies … to reflect what our relationships look like in the everyday access to services," said Basta.
The candidates took similar stances on LGBT issues, promising to work toward full equality, including gay marriage over the current civil union legislation in Illinois.
"Words matter. Our love matters. I will absolutely push to get us gay marriage," said Cassidy.
Basta and Cassidy were raised in homes supported by a family business, each stressing the importance of supporting small businesses to enable an economic recovery.
Both candidates highlighted compromise, collaboration and reaching across the aisle to accomplish their goals in the legislature.
"The way to stay productive in the representative seat is to stay out of it," said Cassidy.
"I heard from voters that Springfield is broken," said Basta. "We can fix it with fresh, independent voices and ideas."
Cassidy closed the debate with: "Our greatest civic duty is to vote, and the best endorsement I can receive is from the voters in the voting booth."
Basta closed the debate with: "I'm the best candidate for a fresh, independent voice in Springfield. I'm doing this because I want to serve you."
