Election 2018 candidate: Michael G. Connelly, 21st Illinois Senate District

Political party

Republican

Age

Town of residence

Lisle

Current occupation and employer

Mike Connelly is an attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl LLC. Mike previously served as an assistant State's Attorney in Cook County and as a law clerk to Justice Allan Stouder of the Illinois Appellate Court. He has been in the private practice of law for over 25 years.

Education

Senator Mike Connelly graduated from Loyola University in 1986 and the John Marshall Law School in 1989.

Immediate family

Mike was raised in La Grange where in high school he met his future wife, Lisa. They’ve been married 30 years and chose to raise their family in Dupage Co. Lisa just recently retired after a thirty-year career as a wireless technology engineer for Bell Laboratories. Together they have three children, Matthew (Sarah), Maureen and Sheila and one grandson Peter.

Website

[ www.ConnellyforIllinois.com ]

Civic involvement and volunteer work

Senator Connelly is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Naperville Rotary Club, Misericordia Advisory Board, DuPage Children’s Advocacy Center Board 2007 – 2011 and is a Lector at St. Margaret Mary Church. For his support of private sector business, Senator Connelly received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business and the Champion of Free Enterprise Awards from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Previous elected offices held

Office:           State Senator, currently office            Years Served: 5
Office:           State Representative                                  Years Served: 3
Office:           DuPage County Board                              Years Served: 2

What should Illinois do to improve its business climate and promote job growth?

The State of Illinois needs stability to ensure a business climate that companies want to invest and expand within. As a legislator, I have been a steadfast supporter of balanced budgets that forces the government to live within its means and stop spending on programs we cannot afford. We also need to address the State’s workers compensation laws to make them fair for both business and workers. I have been the point person for the Senate Republican Caucus during those negotiations in the past few years and I am confident that we can get a bipartisan plan in place in the near future. I will continue to work across the aisle and with business groups like the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to ensure this gets done.

What gun control measures do you support at the state level?

As a husband and father, I have always advocated for common sense gun laws. We must concentrate our efforts on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. That is why I voted for HB 772 that would allow family members or law enforcement to petition the court to take guns out if the hands of people who poses a danger of causing harm to themselves or others. I also voted for HB 6303 which targets straw purchasers of firearms who intend to buy firearms in other states and sell these firearms illegally.

What are your thoughts on the steps Illinois has taken to address its pension crisis? What additional reforms are necessary?

Pension reform is at the top of my to do list. Because of the Constitutional protections for currently earned benefits, we will need a bipartisan effort to pass Constitutional reforms needed to “right the ship” on the largest budget issue that this State faces. Until we as a State admit the pension liabilities are unsustainable there will always be a constant battle on how to pay for them i.e. more taxes, fees, etc.

The current political climate across the United States seems more divided than ever. What will you do to foster cooperation and compromise among members of the Illinois General Assembly?

I have passed 77 bipartisan bills that have become law since I have served in Springfield; I have made it my priority to work with my Democrat counterparts. It is so easy to get rapped up in partisan bickering with all the money and negative messaging in politics now, but I have worked hard to only focus on positive change for my district. This has lead to bipartisan success which I plan to continue if re-elected in November.