State Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst, R-Kankakee, won a key legislative race in the state of Illinois last November. But the outlook isn't all rosy. The state is mired in seemingly insurmountable debt and an almost pathological reluctance to pass a budget. Still, Parkhurst is keeping it all in stride. Last week, she sponsored legislation aimed at reviving the stagnant economy around the Kankakee River. We recently caught up with the first-year legislator and full-time attorney to discuss her plans for the future.

<em>On Jan. 11, you were sworn into the Illinois House of Representatives along with 117 other state reps. Describe what you were feeling as you became part of the historic 100th General Assembly?</em>

I was very honored and excited because of the 100th General Assembly. We're at a crossroads in Illinois. There was a lot of turnover and a lot of new people in our freshman class, so I'm really looking forward to being able to work together on a bipartisan basis to try to move our state to where we need to be. I'm challenged by it, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and work together to try to improve our state.

<em>How do you expect the state to turn itself around?</em>

As the House of Representatives, we've been waiting for the senate to give us the budget. Unfortunately, they hit some bumps in the road, but both sides are looking at weighing the give and take of different positions like property tax and worker's compensation reform. I think we get there by working together on real reform for the state. There's a lot of things that are broken and we need to fix them for the people of Illinois.

<em>You developed an early love for Shakespeare. Now that you're in office, has that helped you in any way?</em>

Yes. I was an English major at U of I, and I actually wanted to teach Shakespeare; that was one of my passions in life. I've read every one of his works, and he really exposes the human condition and human nature. After all these years, nothing's really changed. We still have common goals and common feelings. By looking at the mistakes we've repeated in the past, we're going to able to help fix and guide the ways of the future. Shakespeare is as appropriate as anybody to look at the human condition and problems and use that to enlighten us on how we need to act as people and as a society.

<em>When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in politics?</em>

Well, I don't consider it a career in politics. I never really wanted to be in politics. I have my career; I'm an attorney; I have my family and I have my community. My decision to do this was based on public service. I looked around, and I was sick of letting other people make bad decisions for me, my community, and my state. So, I decided to put my hat in the ring. I'm a working mom; we have a two-income family and I didn't give up my law practice. I'm going down there to do my public service because I found myself complaining more and more about it and I didn't want to complain without doing something about it.

<em>When did you start practicing law?</em>

I started practicing law in 1989. I've been an attorney for 27 years.

<em>Do you find there to be a big difference or similarity between the two, by having experience in both fields?</em>

Yes, that's one of the reasons I decided to run. In my private practice and as an assistant public defender, I represent people who can't represent themselves. They're very capable, confident people, but when it comes to legal problems, they needed help. I've been a voice for the voiceless. I try to fight so everybody can get a fair shake. I have the advocacy, mediation and legal skills, and I felt I was qualified to go to Springfield and be a public servant and try to be part of the solution for my state, so I think they're very similar.

<em>Do you think that having a background in law helps you understand the "little guys" easier?</em>

Yes. I truly believe in education and I believe the more education you have, the more people you should be able to talk to, not less. When I sit in my office in Kankakee, I've helped people who have devastating life circumstances. I've represented children who are facing things way beyond their judgment. I think my one-on-one experience of 27 years of being a lawyer and dealing with people from all walks of life has really let me expand my knowledge of what it's like to walk in somebody else's shoes.

<em>What do you think your victory in November means for you and the state?</em>

Personally, I really don't care whether it's about Republicans or Democrats, but for me, it's about the people of the 79th. They voted me in. They've given me the responsibility to represent their interests [in Springfield] and I take that seriously. I have a website and an office on Court Street. I urge people to contact me because I truly want to be a representative of what the people need from my district. It's important to the state because it was one of those seats that broke the super-majority in the House.

<em>What do you hope to achieve for the state of Illinois?</em>

A lot of it is beyond just one person's control, but I'm willing to work together for a fair and balanced budget to move our state forward. I'm concentrating on different issues for the 79th District in order to get economic growth and representation for the issues. My main focus is good government and ethics reforms, so people are going to Springfield for the right reasons. I didn't take the pension or the health care. I'm not going down there for the fringe benefits of the job. I know there are a lot of like-minded people that look at it as a public service, and I hope that movement can help propel Illinois forward.

<em>What do you hope to see for the state of Illinois going forward?</em>

I'd like to see the tax burden of Illinoisans reduced or frozen, so families can make sure they're safe and secure in their home. We need to make sure Illinois is open for business so we can take our rightful place as a leader in the Midwest. We have everything in our state to make it successful. I believe we need to do that through term limits, tax reform, and by fully and fairly educating so we don't hold our children, teachers and schools hostage each year. So that our children and young adults won't have to leave the state to go to a school with cheaper education and will move back to Illinois and continue their strong Illinois heritage. To do that, we need jobs; we need good schools and we need a business-friendly environment.