In January 2024, Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ editors emailed a questionnaire to candidates in contested March 19 primary races for the Illinois General Assembly, requesting biographical information as well as their views on issues ranging from corruption in state politics to Illinois’ longstanding pension crisis. Answers have been lightly edited for typos, minor grammar and consistency in styling, but not for content or length. Age was calculated as of Feb. 6, 2024.
Lilian Jimenez: When elected officials use their office to solicit personal benefits from businesses, the majority of Illinoisans pay the price, and the elite few benefit. I believe that the state of Illinois needs to create watchdog mechanisms to identify conflicts of interest and oversee the interactions between public utilities and elected officials. The harmful culture of backroom deals and rewarding associates can be combated by eliminating ethical loopholes in state policies. Residents of the 4th District should know that I do not accept donations to my campaign from corporate PACs and public utilities for these reasons.
Lilian Jimenez: I believe that a pension is a promise. The state of Illinois has begun to address this problem, and I will fight to make sure the legislature pays down a larger share of the debt they owe. This will save billions in taxpayer dollars and help all five pension systems become healthy. The state of Illinois needs to focus on curtailing costly corruption and bringing in progressive forms of revenue that ask the wealthy to pay their fair share, rather than increasing taxes on working people and jeopardizing the pensions of those who have worked their whole lives for a stable retirement.
Lilian Jimenez: To bolster job growth, we need to support small businesses and invest in people and neighborhoods instead of corporate chains. Our communities thrive because of our many family-owned, local businesses. Unfortunately, many of them did not benefit from federal COVID dollars that were siphoned off by big corporations. We need to invest in incentive programs that provide support to our local employers, with an emphasis on uplifting our women and minority owned businesses. From my time at the Department of Labor, I know that our businesses need skilled workers, which is why I am working to restore and expand career, technical, and vocational training. In addition to the $26 million in new funding towards youth employment, we can train young people for success in these high-wage jobs.
Lilian Jimenez: I am open to solutions that make sure that our minority communities are not disenfranchised from voting. Historically, social justice and civil rights groups have played a part in making sure districts are drawn fairly, and they should have a seat at the table in the remap process.
Lilian Jimenez: Skyrocketing housing and living costs are the most pressing problems in my district. We must work to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing by supporting homeowners. That’s why I proposed property tax relief for longtime homeowners and a special exemption for homeowners that wish to keep rent affordable. I also support rent control measures and good jobs that pay fair wages so that working families can afford to stay in their neighborhoods and become homeowners.
Lilian Jimenez: The sum of my experiences prepare me to be the best candidate for the fourth district. I come from humble beginnings as the daughter of migrants and was the first in my family to attend college and study to become a lawyer. I led the Fair Labor Standards division at the Illinois Department of Labor and worked to ensure that all workers are treated fairly. Since I was elected in November 2022, I have worked to protect workers’ rights, develop community wealth-building initiatives, and bolster housing affordability and homeownership. I look forward to continuing fighting for our working communities in the Statehouse.
