Illinois Senate District 12, Democratic Primary

Education:

Public Administration Degree, Roosevelt University

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

Illinois Municipal League
Lions Club
Masons
Lyons Township Democrats
Shriners
Southwest Conference of Mayors

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

Trustee Village of Bridgeview
Lyons Township Highway Commissioner
Mayor of Bridgeview
Lyons Township Supervisor
Democratic Committeeman
State Senator

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government.

Nephew, employed with Cook County
Brother, employed by Bridgeview Park District

Education:

Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and Liberal studies

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

None

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

Chicago Public Schools

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government.

None

Campaign headquarters: 7680 W. 63rd st., Summit, Iliinois
Website: None at this time
Campaign manager: Steven Landek
Campaign budget: $100,000.
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.
Bridgeview Active Party $20,000
AT&T 1,500
John Koliopoulous 1,000
Com Ed 2,000
Illinois Merchants 1,000

Campaign headquarters:
Website: raulmontesforchicago.com
Campaign manager:
Campaign budget:
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.

Fair and equitiable distribution of services to the residents of the 12th district. A leaner government that still provides the necessary services to the residents of the 12th district and State of Illinois.

My top priorities have been committed to improving the Chicagoland area and the lives of every citizen in our city and suburbs. I has been one of the most prominent voices thorughout Chicagoland advocating for "Blue Light" surveillance cameras to help deter and solve crime. Cameras is one of the tools to help curb crime. I want to work with all levels of government to help bring more resources and service to the 12th district. I want to bring resources to starved areas like little Village for the past twenty years. I wan to continue to advocate for police and to fight agaisnt criminal activity and bring justice in our courts system against criminals. I want to continue to oppose privatization in the City of Chicago. I will fight against the raising of Chicago city stickers, the parking meter deal, and the skyway tax hikes.I will embarke on a mission to advocate for the residents of the City of Chicago and suburbs to help stop the bleeding of taxhikes and to tell the nothing but the truth. I will help bring more general infrastructure throughout Chicagoland, like the one I was instrumental in which was the permanently reconstruction of the 31st street bridge that separates Chicago and Cicero a over $7 million project. I want to bring more economic development to areas that are great need and destitute.

Reduce the size of government, through consolidation or elimination
Reduce state spending with a thougtful and fair plan

I want too bring resources to the 12th district with money from the Illinois Jobs Now Program that has over 31 billion dollars in the capital budget. I want to help reduce the state deficit by stopping the mispending of funds. I want to create jobs, reduce tax hikes, promote healthcare and help veterans. I want to help and promote education and its programs. I want to implement new laws and bills to stop corruption. I want to introduce new ethics reform throughout the state fo Illinois. I want to promote moe programs for the elderly and programs for people that are less fortunate. I want to be a good leader and bring statisfaction to the people who would vote me in office. I want to bring transparency and forums for people to get a visual on state legislature and its functions. I want to bring more police and emergency services throughout the state.

Extensive experience in managing government, public works projects, business development and understanding and knowledge of the governmental and political systems.

I want to help alleviate the deficit the state is in currently. I want to stop "double dipping" and" triple dipping". I want help people get the pensions they deserve and stop lawmakers from receiving multiple pensions. I want to pass bills and sponsor them to stop tax hikes throughout the state. I want to be instrumental in stopping the mispending taxes to benefit many politicians in office with state of the are lavished offices. I would try to stop tax hikes like the one of common wealth edison.

A comprehensive look at all benefits must be undertaken with all options and possiblities examined. SB512 is a good start, although there are some parts of that bill which are incomplete.

Yes, I do plan on reducing pension benefits. Police officers and firefighters should be included in a reduced pension system.

Did not respond

I would deal with the state's unfunded pension liability by cutting on spending from the state enormously.

We need to use the expiration date of the legislation as guide to cut spending. Before we agree to cut the increase, the actual question should be, how will we cut spending or raise revenue to allow for the expiration of the tax.

I do want to see the 2% increase tax to expire in 2014.

Yes, we should change the corporate income tax rate, but first we need to understand why there are less corporations and more S corps. Changing the rate on Corporations is only a small start to equity of the system

Yes I support changes to the corportate income tax rate. I support changes to the state's business tax structure.

Reduce tax rates and cut spending.

The state goverment should cut spending and the mismanaging of money and help the people throughout the state. This will then create more job and better the recession.

Borrowing should be the last resort. However we need to understand from this question and all of those listed above, there is no quick fix to this situation. Cutting expenses, elimination of unncessary programs and reviewing equitable tax rates will set us on the right path to financial security. It took many years to put the State of Illinois in the financial state it is in, it will take a thoughtful, comprehensive plan to get us out.

My plan is to pay the billions for schools, universities, human servic and other providers because there is no other bail out. I fyou have to borrow of course you must have to do it,. The bills have to paid somehow.

I would need to review the legislation and how it affects management rights. A blanket answer will not adequately answer the question.

I believe in theh state Legistlative leaders to give the General Assembly the role in negotiating contract with state labor unions because the old system is not effective or working.

I voted yes for the expansive and I believe that is the right course for the state. I do support a Chicago casino.

I d support gambling expansion in the state of Illinois. It would be beneficial because it brings more revenue to the state of Illinois. I support a casino in chicago because it will help alleviate the City of Chicago deficit that is over $600 million. I support Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on this issue and proposal to bring a casino to Chicago. We are losing potential revenue and tourism. I believe the City of Chicago should own and manage a Chicago casino.

No changes.

I do support changes to state ethics and campaign finance laws. We need to stop "double dipping", "triple dipping" and multiple pensions for politicians.I support capping of what state party leaders can donate during a general election by all means.

Progressive taxes are more equitable, I would have to see the legislation and % to properly respond.

I would support a constitutional amendment from a flat income tax to a progressive tax system because the flat is regressive toward middle-class and poor people.

I am committeed to the appropriate funding for schools. Your question already assumes that the system is broken and that is a premise to which I do not completely subscribe.

I do have a plan to adequately fund schools and reform the property tax system. Schools need al the money they can get and property taxes are just too high and ridciulous..

I assume the question is a civil union question, so I will respond by saying I support civil unions.

I believe that gay marriages should be allowed in the country.