Pam Roth, 41, lives in Morris.
Republican, 75th District, which includes Grundy County and parts of Will, Kankakee, Livingston and Iroquois in The Daily Journal circulation area.
Family: Married to husband, Steve. Sons are Jared, 11, and Jakob, 9.
Profession: Certified Public Accountant. Worked full-time for Exelon before resigning to take the legislative post.
Political experience: President of the Saratoga School Board (kindergarten-eight grade, 770 students) for the past two years. Completed a four-year term as a board member before resigning to take representative's position. Active with the Century Club, a Morris Republican organization. One of 26 people to fill out a questionnaire for the position.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. First person in family to earn a college degree. She refused to borrow money and graduated at age 27.
Personal: Credits her husband, an engineer, with being a big supporter of her education and career. Steve Roth has been president of the Morris Rotary. Both are active fundraisers with the Morris Hospital Auxiliary Ball. She grew up a Democrat. Her mom was a local union president before retiring.
Balanced budget?
Absolutely. Go through it line by line. We have to live within our means and separate the core functions from everything else.
<strong>Tax increases?</strong>
I will not support any tax increase until the state changes its spending habits. Individuals and businesses have to cope with the money they have. Government should, too.
<strong>Specific cuts?</strong>
We need pension reform and have to lower the costs of workers' compensation. Do away with all the state cars and all the state planes. Start with the fat in the governor's office and work down.
<strong>Improving Illinois ethics?</strong>
We have to change how long people serve in government. It shouldn't be a career. Eight or ten years is enough, then maybe it's time to get someone else in.
<strong>Creating jobs?</strong>
This is the priority. We have a lot of people that need to be employed and that includes people that used to be in good union labor jobs. We have to bring in business, and we have to be open to ideas.
<strong>Reservations about gambling?</strong>
We need to dive into the bill (expanding gambling). I can tell you, because I went to school there, that the Vegas economy is very bad now. More research is needed on the costs of gambling.
<strong>Public schools?</strong>
We have to hold schools, and particularly school administrators, accountable for results.
It's time to change the tenure laws for teachers, too. Tenure after four years is too quick. Maybe lengthen it to eight years, but definitely more than four years. We should look at shifting future teacher pensions into 401k plans. This gives people more control over their own retirement.
I'm not opposed to using vouchers (for private or charter schools) in education.
<strong>Pension borrowing?</strong>
We have to cut spending before we consider any borrowing.
<strong>Legislative gridlock?</strong>
How do you fix the state? Well, you can't fix it by having business as usual. I will bring some common sense business practices to the table, fresh blood and fresh ideas.
<strong>Additional information?</strong>
I'm very approachable and friendly. Even my mom (a Democrat) said I would do great. People serve in many ways. This is may way of making a difference.