49th state representative district Republican challenger Jim Krenz has sent his answers to a newspaper questionnaire. The 49th district includes areas south of the Kane-McHenry County line, including the Kane County part of Sun City.
Krenz is running against incumbent Tim Schmitz, who is on House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ leadership team.
Here’s a candidate after my own heart. He actually wants people to know where he stands on the issues. The questions answers appear below:
Web Site: www.votekrenz.com
E-Mail: Personal J. Krenz: jamyplbg@aol.com
Campaign Director Wardin98@aol.com
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?
No, nothing more than a traffic ticket
Party affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Business(s) owner
Previous political experience (elective and appointed positions):
Elected to (2) terms: Trustee – Gail Borden Public Library District
Resigned 2nd term due to move outside of District
Community Involvement:
Past DCFS – LSSI Foster Parent
Member of Elgin Area Noon Rotary Club
Former Algonquin Zoning Board of Appeals member
Former Elgin Building Commission (Plumbing Committee)
Former Board Member Elgin PeeWee Football
Former Trustee St John’s Lutheran Church
Charter officer “Big Brothers of the Fox Valley (Pre-Big Bro/Sis)
Legislative Committee NIACCA
Former Officer, Director, Legislative Committee, Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Fox Valley
Former Board Member, Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Chicago & Ill.
Education: Elgin High School 1972
Elgin Community College, Pre-Engineering Courses
1. What are your top priorities if elected?
Ethical Government:
Term Limits – No Pay To Play Contracts – Transparent Campaign Funding
No Paid Lobby work after being an elected official
No Multiple State Paid Pensions
Illegal Means Illegal! No Taxpayer paid benefits or education
Illinois’ Public Sector Pension Systems:
New systems to align with private sector plans & legislation to secure the pre-existing pension obligation!
Re-focus secondary education from “College Prep Only”– College Prep or Pre-employment Based Tech
Vouchers for all Illinois Schools & Home Schoolers
Umbrella “Stop Loss” Catastrophic” medical coverage
(Not universal health!)
Restructure of DCFS
Road & infrastructure improvement in Kane County!
Pro-Life & I support traditional family values
Support 2nd amendment
2. If you were a part of the State Legislature, what would you do to ensure that there is not
a repeat of this past year’s budget fiasco.
Elected Officials are motivated and react to phone calls and letters!
I will run my office as I have run this campaign, and my business.
I will spend seven days a week, year round, meeting the families and businesses of the District. Through the usage of a mobile office & regular posted visit dates, along with a weekly call in radio talk show, I will be able to continue the course I have followed during my walking campaign.
This approach will restore the confidence of the average taxpayer that they do have a voice and can have an impact (for the 49th) in Springfield again.
When I leverage this power from the voters rather than the power of the “Parties Leadership Contingent”, then other elected officials may realize there is another way to gather support for legislation.
3. Would you support more casinos or expansion of gambling in Illinois?
Is there a downside to legalized gambling in Illinois?
I support use of the unused casino license.
I do not favor expansion of casinos in the State.
I favor limited consideration of machines at racetracks.
Having spent a majority of my life in the Fox Valley, I believe that gambling
has had a very negative impact upon:
1. Those at the lower economic level
2. The many with a chronic addiction to gambling
Basing future State revenues on the gambling whims of select areas of the State is just not sound business!
We must bring spending in line with revenues….even though it will be uncomfortable!
4. What would you do to address transportation needs in the State?
In Kane County we have a “procedure & process” which technically is working at the county level in concert with IDOT. State funding adequacy and reliability is still a major factor in the obvious deterioration and lack of expansion of our northern Kane County infrastructure.
I believe both portions of the State Motor Fuel Tax should be used as most taxpayers assumed it was, for transportation. This obviously then creates a hole in the General Fund, and as in #3 I believe we must bring spending in line with revenues….even though it will be uncomfortable!
5. Do you support education reforms in Illinois? If so, what changes do you support and
why?
Taxpayers have funded schools with nearly $200billion during the past decade, which amounts to nearly $12, 674.00/student.
The issue is not “lacking dollars”!
We must stop the “experimental methods” which have been evolving since the 1960’s.
It is time we return to a system of “Basic” three “R’s” in the primary grades.
School “vouchers” would foster competition among administrators, helping to control the inefficient management of our education system.
It’s time high school students had a choice of a college prep “or” a technical education readying them for a career. Lastly, discontinuing Illegal Immigrant access to public schools would be a major reduction in costs & overcrowding!
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Jim Krenz is on the top left, Tim Schmitz on the right.