Carolyn Schofield, Illinois House 66th District Republican candidate profile

Candidate profile

Carolyn Schofield

Running for: Illinois House District 66

Political/civic background:Board Member | Mchenry County, Illinois | 2012-2016; 2018-present:
Chair McHenry County Storm Water Commission (2014-2016); Secretary (2019-present)
Chair Planning and Development (2014-2016)
Chair McHenry County Comprehensive Plan Update 2030 and Beyond (2015-2016)
Vice-Chair Planning and Environmental Development Committee (2018-present)
Vice-Chair Natural and Environmental Resources Committee (2014-2016)
McHenry County Conservation District County Board Liaison (2012-2016)
Chair Township Consolidation Task Force
Chair Census Demographics Task Force
Chair County Board Reorganization Ad Hoc Committee

Board Member | Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning | 2013-present:
Executive Committee (2016- present)
Vice-Chair (2018-present)
Chair Planning Committee (2017-2019)
CMAP Board and Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee
Subcommittee on Transportation Funding (2017-2018)
Municipal Capacity Analysis Advisory Group (2016-2017)
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee- CMAP voting member (2018-2019)

Commissioner | Fox River Flood Control Commission | 2019-present

Municipal Capacity Advisory Group | Metropolitan Planning Council | 2017-2018

Executive Committee | Northwest Water Planning Alliance | 2012-2016:
Vice-Chair (2015-2016)
Ex Officio Member (2017-present)

Steering Committee | McHenry County Economic Development Strategy | 2015-2016

City Council Member | City of Crystal Lake, Illinois | 2009-2012

Planning and Zoning Commission | City of Crystal Lake, Illinois | 1999-2009

Occupation: Substitute Teacher/County Board Member

Education: Bachelor of Science, General Engineering Specialization in Environmental Quality -University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Campaign website: carolynschofield.com

Facebook: @Schofieldforstaterep

Twitter: @carolynSchofie8

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. Carolyn Schofield 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.

I’ve been an active community volunteer my entire adult life. In addition to my local service on the McHenry County Board, on a regional level I serve on the Executive Board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, where I recently chaired the Planning Committee during the adoption of the “On to 2050” regional plan. I also encouraged and supported the development of the McHenry County Coordinated Investment Study, which provides for a survey of all local units of government to identify and understand the benefits of shared and coordinated services. The study, funded through a CMAP grant, is the first of its kind in Illinois, and is anticipated to save taxpayers’ money and provide a model for fiscal efficiency for other counties. I was also recently appointed to the state’s Fox River Flood Control Commission.

I am also actively involved with local programs “Stuff the Duffel” and “Second Bridge”, which recently provided 4,000 backpacks to youth within Illinois’ foster care system. Through these programs, community “calls to action” are issued as needed to ensure children transitioning to new foster homes have the necessities they need during difficult transitions. To further assist youth in care and their foster families, I am currently working on launching a certified mentoring program in McHenry County for pre-teen and teen youth in care.

I have also been involved in efforts to address human trafficking, and worked with the local human trafficking coalition as McHenry County drafted its adult use ordinance to strengthen laws and preventative/awareness measures to protect people from human traffickers. Additionally, for over a decade my family has begun our Thanksgiving mornings by serving our local food pantry and participating in the Community Harvest. Other community involvement includes volunteerism in local schools and service to PTAs and youth organizations.

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.

1.) Property Taxes: The people of McHenry and Kane Counties pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. The legislature must take steps to reduce this burden. While my opponent files and lists bills that go nowhere and then points to the bill filings as legislative successes, I intend to file bills and work fiercely across the aisle to ensure they are heard in a committee and brought to the floor for a vote. Any legislator can file a bill; it takes collaboration and a commitment to work with both parties to usher bills through the process- especially when serving in the super-minority. I will be successful where my opponent has failed.

2.) Transportation, Infrastructure. Water/Sewer Improvements: The 66th District is a far suburban district heavily dependent on roads for transportation. Continued infrastructure improvements is a necessity to allow ease of access to jobs and everyday means. Projects such as Illinois Route 47, Long Meadow Parkway, and the addition of McHenry County’s first interchange at Illinois Route 23 are recent projects I supported. My opponent was a vocal opponent to some key infrastructure projects, and voted against the State’s new infrastructure improvement program. Sewer and water projects, including the Algonquin Treatment Plant rebuild, will allow for further development and redevelopment of the area while maintaining quality sewer and water service for existing residents.

3.). Effective Flood Control: Flood devastation has increased in the District 66 communities that border the Fox River. After being ignored for decades, the adoption of adequate flood control measures has become extremely important due to the increase in water table levels, effects of failing infrastructure, and extensive damage of personal property. I recently served on the Fox River Flood Control Commission which took a wholistic approach to flooding for all areas along and around the Fox River. Studies such as this, and a coordinated approach to control flooding, is critical to identifying areas of improvement so property owners can be better protected during heavy rain events.

What are your other top legislative priorities?

My top priority is to restore effective leadership for the residents of the 66th District. While other House Republicans are able to get bills signed into law that directly benefit their constituents, the current representative has burnt bridges and become completely ineffective. He has done nothing to build relationships that provide a foundation for personal legislative success. As a result, during his three years in office he has written not even one bill that he has been able to carry through the entire legislative process. The people of the 66th District deserve a Representative who is committed to working collaboratively to deal real, sustainable results for McHenry and Kane Counties. Today they don’t have it. I have a proved record of collaboration and working with others to achieve results that benefit taxpayers and will bring those successes to the role of Representative.

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

I do not support the proposed graduated income tax. Until lawmakers develop the political courage to stop spending money they don’t have and commit to living within their means, additional taxes will not solve Illinois’ fiscal crisis. Departments should be analyzed and audited to ensure that only those who meet eligibility thresholds are receiving state services, and zero-based budgeting should be implemented to ensure departments are being as efficient as possible. Springfield lawmakers have not been good stewards with taxpayer funds, and while they’re promising the graduated tax will only affect the highest earners, they refused to write it into the proposed Amendment. Their refusal to write those protections into the question should serve as a huge red flag for every member of the middle class. Legislators have not earned the trust of taxpayers and have provided no assurances that the money will be used wisely and responsibly.

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?

The best way to balance the budget is to increase the number of taxpayers by adding jobs. If Illinois doesn’t become more competitive and focus on job growth, the tax-and-spend status quo will continue. If elected, I will focus on creating jobs and growing the Illinois economy, so that budgets can be balanced without a tax increase. In addition to job growth, I support the completion of a comprehensive eligibility audit of state systems so that only those who meet income, eligibility and other requirements are receiving benefits. I would also recommend strengthening accountability standards and collection practices so that those who are supposed to make reduced payments for services are forced to pay their portion for the benefits they are receiving. Additionally, Illinois needs to get serious about pension reform. Full payments must be made every year, and obligations to current retirees and pension system participants must be honored. The legislature needs to either creat a Tier III system that operates more like a 401k, or open the Constitution to adjust the promissory language for new pension system participants in the future.

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

Absolutely not, if the State wasn’t in such difficult financial straights, we wouldn’t even be considering taxing our senior citizens on their hard earned money. If Illinois would be more responsible with their spending, analyze each department, and ensure that expenses are matched by realistic revenues, there would be no need to tax retirement income.

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

Education needs to be student-centered and not centered around state and federal mandates. There is no “one size fits all” template that ensures a successful education, and public schools need flexibility so that they can create a curriculum that benefits their unique demographic of students. In all cases, I would support expanding dual-credit and AP classwork that allows college bound students to receive college credit while in high school. This has the potential to significantly cut college costs for Illinois families. I would support legislation that protects suburban taxpayers and the investments that they make in their local school districts, and would fight to keep more of our local tax dollars here rather than sending them downstate and into the City of Chicago. Communities that have had successful voter-led referenda to boost school funding should not be penalized for that community choice. I would also support realigning assessments statewide so that Cook County, which is currently only assessed at 10% of EAV, would be treated the same as the rest of Illinois, which is assessed at 33%.

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

The immediate focus should be placed on strengthening and enforcing existing laws. Being proactive rather than reactive in approach by ensuring that guns remain out of the hands of convicted felons and mentally ill individuals, as well as preventing the sale and trafficking of illegal guns, are critical starting points. Preventing gun violence should not be a controversial or partisan issue. A balance can be found between the protection of Second Amendment rights and protecting people from gun violence. Bringing all sides together to start discussions on solutions to keeping people safe through collaboration and consensus is fundamental to addressing gun violence.

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

I am in favor of term limits for elected officials and specifically for those serving in leadership roles. While there is value in experience and voters can display their approval or disapproval at the polls, excessive time served in leadership roles has been shown to lead to abuse of power and stagnant representation.

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?

I absolutely support a fair maps amendment proposal, which would take legislative map-drawing out of the hands of politicians and instead have districts determined solely by population and geography. In 2012, Speaker Madigan, who is also the State Chairman for the Democrat Party, created a gerrymandered map that protected his incumbents and assured his continued control of the House. With so many non-partisan and bi-partisan groups and organizations in agreement on fair maps, it is unacceptable that the party in power continues to thwart the efforts with no justification. Governor Pritzker has promised to reject any map he deems as “unfair”, but we need to remove the political element completely to ensure a fair process that does not benefit any specific political party or group of individuals.

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?

While dozens of substantive ethics reform bills filed by Republicans languished in the House Rules Committee this year, the majority party leaders only brought two watered down bills to the floor for consideration. Illinoisans deserve better. Glaring problems brought to light by the current federal corruption probe were not addressed. As a result of weak action taken by the General Assembly this year, it’s still legal for an elected legislator to also work as a paid lobbyist. It’s still legal for a legislator who is forced to resign due to federal corruption indictment to essentially choose his/her successor. It’s still legal for a chair of a key Springfield committee to block bills from being heard if those bills are disliked by important campaign donors. The cure for corruption requires bold legislative action that fully bans unethical behavior by elected official in the General Assembly. What Illinoisans got this year was mere window dressing.

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 would support legislation that would limit the commercial sale and distribution of personal information that could be misused or used for identity theft. With technology advancements, there are some benefits to collection of general information (not personal information) that is used for product development and placement, but there needs to be a balance so that there is not an infringement on people’s privacy.

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?

Higher education in Illinois has frankly become unaffordable and thus unobtainable for many within our State. A look at the entire system from reform at the administrative level to efficiencies in the operational costs should be closely examined prior to considering state funding increases. We also need to start finding ways to successfully educate those within Illinois and encourage the long term viability of their residents in our State. This is a full circle approach, starting with attracting businesses and jobs to our state, and providing an educated workforce for those businesses through education of our Illinois students. This would theroectically eliminate the significant decline in population we have been seeing and encourage growth, while in turn introducing more tappers into the system and diversifying the tax base.

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

Addressing climate extremes is a top priority for me. In particular, the frequency and severity of flooding in our region has significantly increased over the last several years. Addressing the effects of flooding and the devastation to individuals is critical. Providing oopportunities for solutions such as buy-out programs, redevelopment, elevation changes, and updated mapping would reduce the extent of losses and provide a more sustainable region.

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.

Ruth Hanna McCormick was influential in Illinois politics during a time when it was uncommon and difficult for women to have a policial voice. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and was leading voice on women’s suffrage issues. In fact, Ruth Hannah McCormick was instrumental in passing a partial suffrage law that allowed women the right to vote in municipal and Presidential elections. She advocated for women’s rights until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. A remarkable woman, she was also the first woman elected to Congress in Illinois. She was a trailblazer who influenced countless women to seek leadership roles in politics.

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

I don’t watch a lot of television, but I do enjoy watching Seinfeld and have seen every episode more than once. The show is filled with witty humor and is guaranteed to bring laughs to those watching. It is a show I can watch with my children, which is also important.