Kenneth M. Kozlar, Illinois House 2nd District Democratic candidate profile

Candidate profile

Kenneth M. Kozlar

Running for:State Representative of the 2nd District

Political/civic background: Volunteer for several political candidates

Occupation:Retired-Research Technician

Education: DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL Graduate-Washburne trade school certificate in auto mechanics

The Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board sent candidates for the Illinois House of Representatives a list of questions to find out their views on a range of important issues facing the state of Illinois and their districts. Kenneth M. Kozlar submitted the following responses:

Please tell us about your civic work in the last two years, whether it’s legislation you have sponsored or work you have done in other ways to improve your community.

Give gardening advice, clean- up trash, cut grass, shovel snow to make my block look better.

Please list three concerns that are specific to your district, such as a project that should be undertaken or a state policy related to an important local issue that should be revised.

Senior Suites rents, Veteran’s concerns ,Homeless needs, especially under the Dan Ryan expressway at Canalport ave. @UNION & EMERALD AVES.

What are your other top legislative priorities?

Discount for Seniors license plate stickers, Property tax relief not only for World War II VETERANS and for KOREAN WAR Veterans and their surviving spouse ,higher fines for drivers going around stopped school buses with a drivers license suspension on 2nd violation.

What is your position on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax? Please explain. *

I am for a fair income tax system, so everybody pays their fair share based upon their income which should help balance some of the Sate of Illinois budget.

Illinois continues to struggle financially, with a backlog of unpaid bills that tops $6 billion. In addition to a progressive state income tax — or in lieu of such a tax — what should the state do to pay its bills, meet its pension obligations and fund core services such as higher education? *

Look into more gaming facilities, better checking of people not paying their state taxes, again fair income tax for all workers in the state of Illinois.

Should Illinois consider taxing the retirement incomes of its very wealthiest residents, as most states do? And your argument is? *

No, fairness for all retirees, the federal government takes out 20% taxes on 401k ,403b when retirees need additional income to pay their bills and the federal government has required minimun distribution on most retirement accounts at age 70 1/2 yrs old.

What can Illinois do to improve its elementary and high schools? *

Improve funding especially from the state LOTTERY games , better school contracts like CHICAGO public schools just approved from the city of CHICAGO.

Mass shootings and gun violence plague America. What can or should the Legislature do, if anything, to address this problem in Illinois? *

More laws for getting guns from out of state dealers, gun dealers should only sell to state residents only, continue gun vouchers to people with excess guns to keep unwanted guns off our streets.

Do you favor or oppose term limits for any elected official in Illinois? Please explain. *

YES!!!, Term limits I am in favor of 2 terms & out change is good for everyone!!!

Everybody says gerrymandering is bad, but the party in power in every state — Democrats in Illinois — resist doing anything about it. Or do we have that wrong? What should be done? *

Elect a candidate like Kenneth M. Kozlar, an average person who cares about my constituents. I seen the struggles of my people in my district as I walked the entire district during petition canvassing.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago is investigating possible official corruption by state and local officials. This prompted the Legislature to pass an ethics reform measure to amend the Lobbyist Registration Act (SB 1639). It was signed into law in December. What’s your take on this and what more should be done? *

I am all for ethics reform, we need elected officials like Kenneth M. Kozlar representing my district and their needs not the politicians in office already.

When people use the internet and wireless devices, companies collect data about us. Oftentimes, the information is sold to other companies, which can use it to track our movements or invade our privacy in other ways. When companies share this data, we also face a greater risk of identity theft. What should the Legislature do, if anything? *

I will sponsor a bill not to let companies get our information so easily, send consumers a letter or E-mail not to share our information with other companies without our approval.

The number of Illinois public high school graduates who enroll in out-of-state universities continues to climb. What can Illinois do to make its state universities more attractive to Illinois high school students? *

All state universities should eliminate the SAT@ACT test scores , ILLINOIS should use the students GPA and a interview in the process for acceptance ,more scholarships from the school.

What is your top legislative priority with respect to the environment? *

We need clean air to breath, for growth of plants and animals, stricter EPA permit requirements for industrial plants in residential areas ,parks and by schools.

What historical figure from Illinois, other than Abraham Lincoln (because everybody’s big on Abe), do you most admire or draw inspiration from? Please explain. *

RICHARD J. DALEY -a people person, high family values and was a great mayor for over 20 years in CHICAGO, he cared about our city and his people of Chicago.

What’s your favorite TV, streaming or web-based show of all time. Why? *

Diners, drive-in and dives , triple D show on the FOOD NETWORK, I like the variety of food on this program with GUY FIERI as the host.