Illinois state Rep. Ann Williams ( D ) faces a number of issues should she be re-elected to serve the 11th District on Nov. 8.
They include resolving the state's budget crisis and ensuring the safety of her community in an increasingly violent city.
But, first, she must overcome the challenge presented by Republican Gary Mandell, who says he holds career politicians "responsible for their policies that that have led to the financial disaster now facing our state."
Williams spoke with Windy City Times about how she would go about addressing the state's finances and other key issues should voters send her back to Springfield.
Windy City Times: One of the principal issues on which your opponent Gary Mandell is running is balancing the state budget. If people were to vote you in for another term, what would be your strategy in getting the state's financial house in order?
Ann Williams: Until the past year and a half, we've always had a state budget in place. What has changed is our leadership at the top. The governor said this to me directly: He refuses to negotiate the budget unless and until his political agenda is passed. Some of the items in his turnaround agenda are certainly viable and worth discussing.
The problem is that putting your political agenda ahead of actually governing is not doing your job and that's what created the impasse. Republicans and Democrats can easily go through the budget and disagree about certain line items but, at the end, of the day, they come together. But we're not even getting to a discussion about priorities because the governor is demanding his agenda first.
WCT: If you came up with a compromise that Speaker Michael Madigan didn't agree with, would you be prepared to go against him?
AW: I wasn't supported by the speaker when I first ran and I have frequently gone against both the speaker and the mayor in order to advance what I thought was in the best interests of my constituency. But for the governor, for example, to hold human service agencies, community mental health programs and higher education hostage while he pushes his political agenda through doesn't make sense and is not what any of us should be doing.
WCT: You opponent also says that increasing revenues by increasing tax rates is flawed logic. The high income-tax rate is a concern for a lot of people in Illinois.
AW: He's not hearing the facts. He's using a lot of talking points and generalizations. Before I was in office, they raised the income tax to 5.25. It was rolled back in 2015. So it's on the low end of income taxes. What could solve the budget crisis as well as providing an updated and more fair tax structure would be to provide for a graduated income tax. Illinois is one of a very small minority of states that still utilizes the flat tax. So-called, pro-business, red states like Illinois and Wisconsin utilize a graduated income tax. They have an updated code that provides for taxing of services rather than goods.
If you layer Indiana's tax on Illinois' economy, we would have something like $4.7 billion in revenue. So that's what we should be advancing but the Republican caucus won't even mention it. Even the governor has said that we need to increase revenues, but he is using it as a bargaining chip.
I've voted for a lot of cuts and I'm sure that more there's more that need to be made. But, when pressed, [my opponent] was unable to give me one program, service or line item that he would suggest to be cut.
WCT: One of the other key issues Mr. Mandell raises is one of safety. Gun violence has been something the LGBTQ community has taken up since the Orlando massacre. Where do we begin to start curbing gun violence and how would you hold your own against an organization like the NRA?
AW: It's the issue I'm hearing most about from constituents. The NRA does a report card on the issue. I got an "F" rating and I'm very proud of it. On my Facebook page, there were a few pro-NRA voices who could be quite threatening. It's an issue where there's no gray area. The NRA is incredibly powerful. The Illinois House passed a bill to legalize silencers. The argument used was that it was to provide security and protection to hunters. I'm not concerned about going up against the NRA. Although we passed concealed carry, I joined a number of my colleagues to push for common sense restrictions.
The item I was not able to get included but which I am partnering with the Republican leader on is banning the carrying of a concealed weapon in a restaurant that serves alcohol. The bill says you can't have one in a bar but you can get just as drunk in a restaurant. It's a matter of getting a critical mass of legislators that are going to respond to these violence issues.
WCT: Mr. Mandell's solutions include increased police funding but that does not mean a safer LGBTQ community because of the profiling that happens. If we are to go down that road, how do we ensure that the community is respected?
AW: Gary didn't fill out the NRA, the Equality Illinois or the pro-choice questionnaires because he doesn't want the public to know where he stands. It also shows someone who is very out-of-step with our community; one that is very strong for equality, choice and against the NRA's positions. I would agree that we have a lot of work to do about educating and extensive training for law enforcement and personnel in prison and jail settings. You have to ensure that there's monitoring on how these policies are being implemented.
WCT: If things go the Republican's way at the top of the ticket on Nov. 8, there are a lot of people in your district who will be facing Mr. Trump's threats of deportation squads. How do you keep their families intact?
AW: We can do lots of things on a local and state level to ensure that people have services, that they are welcomed. They are human beings who are part of our culture and economy. To pick on the fears of uneducated individuals just to move your agenda forward is very harmful. If, God forbid, that did happen, we're going to have to take steps on a state level just to show people they are valued.
WCT: What are some of the next LGBT-rights issues in a post marriage-equality world?
AW: Of course, at the top of the list are issues pertaining to the transgender community. I'm one of the sponsors of Greg Harris's bill about birth certificate modifications. The fact that it's still a discussion in Springfield shows that we've got a ways to go. There's nobody left in the entire Republican caucus who supported marriage equality. That shows that we still have a substantial challenge in terms of equality whether it applies to adoption or financial situations. The fact that we're still talking about what bathroom people can go to, I mean, come on. It's 2016. I don't see why it matters and why we are spending time trying to pigeonhole people.
For more information on the Ann Williams campaign, visit VoteAnnWilliams.com .