40th Senate candidates differ on virus response, tax proposal
As the COVID-19 pandemic limits their face time with voters, candidates in the 40th Illinois Senate district are taking different stances on the state’s COVID-19 response and the graduated-rate income tax amendment.
Democratic Sen. Patrick Joyce, a fourthgeneration farmer from Essex, faces Republican Eric Wallace, an ordained minister from Flossmoor.
Joyce was appointed in November to replace Toi Hutchinson, of Olympia Fields, whowas tabbed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker as the state’s cannabis czar, overseeing the rollout of Illinois’ foray into legalized production and sales of recreational marijuana.
Joyce, 58, was the top vote-getter among four candidates in the March Democratic primary, receiving nearly 47%. This is his first election for state office. His father, Jerry, was a longtime state senator, serving 17 years in the Senate before retiring in 1992.
Wallace, 61, challenged Maggie Crotty in the 2006 19th Senate
District and in 2014 ran in the special election in the 2nd Congressional District. Wallace was named Republican committeeman in Rich Township last December.
He and his wife operate a nonprofit, Freedom’s Journal Institute, which advocates for public policy that promotes responsible government, individual liberties and strong family values with a biblical perspective, according to itswebsite.
Joyce is enjoying the support of labor organizations including teachers unions and within the last three months has received contributions of more than $80,000 from labor groups, campaign finance disclosure reports show.
Wallace’s recent campaign report showed he had $2,000 available at the end of last month.
Wallace said he knows he is fighting an uphill battle from both a spending standpoint and running as a Republican
“The odds may be against me in winning because it’s still predominantly Democratic, but at least I have a fighting chance,” Wallace said. “The incumbent always has the upper hand.”
“The Republican Party is not exactly flush with cash in Illinois and there is very little money coming tomy race,” he said.
But Joyce acknowledges that, despite being the incumbent, hisnameis not all that well-known, and the pandemic has put a severe crimp in public campaign events. He said he has been doing some door-to-door campaigning.
“I have my mask on, ring the doorbell then jump back about 10 feet,” he said.
Campaign volunteers have been in the field hanging literature on doorknobs but not engaging voters personally, Joyce said.
“I’m a face-to-face guy and it’s just not something you are able to do at this point,” he said. “I’m relatively new so I need to get my name out there.”
On the restrictions thatwere put in place
in response to the pandemic, he and Wallace differ
Wallace said he has Type 2 diabetes and his wife cares for her 80-year-old mother, so he has been particularly cautious. But he insists that individuals, rather than government, should dictate what precautions should be taken.
“Life is full of risk,” he said. “You take a risk every time you drive down the highway.”
Joyce said he understands the restrictions caused hardships for many businesses but believes the governor acted based on the best guidance from public health experts.
“You can say we overreacted, but what if we hadn’t,” he said.
Joyce said that recent numbers showing increased numbers of cases in several areas around the state point against a full reopening.
“The economy definitely needs it, but at what risk?” he said.
Both candidates also disagree on the proposed graduated-rate income tax amendment on the ballot.
If approved by voters, the change would do away with Illinois’ flat-rate incometax and allowthe rate to increase for those with higher incomes.
Wallace favors keeping, at least for now, the flatrate tax, saying that higher taxes on more affluent residents will prompt them to move out of Illinois and leave a higher tax burden on others.
Joyce favors it, saying most Illinoisans would pay the same or less in income tax, and that voters he’s talked to recently are split 50-50 on the question.
With a state budget for this fiscal year that relies heavily on borrowing and federal aid to plug a massive deficit, where budget cuts should be made is a tricky question, both say.
Wallace said programs are going to have to be cut, but “deciding what’s going to be cut is a whole other issue.”
.“We need to be very thoughtful in how we do this,” Joyce said, saying the state must preserve funding for education and health and human services programs.
“Do you want your school to be cut or for my school to be cut?” he said. “Without federal help it’s going to be something that’s going to happen.”
Last month, Pritzker told state agencies to prepare for 5% cuts to budgets for this year and 10% cuts for the fiscal year that begins next July 1. The governor’s budget office estimates that the state will lose $6.5 billion in revenue this year and next year.
Wallace said he doesn’t believe Illinois, with its history of fiscal mismanagement, is deserving of a federal bailout.
“Trump is right on that,” he said. “We shouldn’t be trying to bail out states that have been fiscally unsound. Why would you give more money to a state that has shown it can’t handle moneywell?”
To help prepare young people for careers both candidates are proponents of boosting vocational education at the high school level.
Wallace said there are ample opportunities for plumbers, electricians and welders.
“All these jobs are out there waiting to be filled,” he said.
Such training would boost jobs for south suburban residents who don’t plan to attend college or can’t afford it, Wallace said.
“If you don’thave people with the skill sets filling those jobs, they’ll hire from outside the area,” he said.
The district includes a large portion of Kankakee County and all or parts of Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Frankfort, Matteson, Mokena, New Lenox, South ChicagoHeights and University Park.
Kankakee County accounts for about40% of the 40th’s population, while 25% is in Will County; the remainder is in south Cook County and a small portion of Grundy County.