State House, District 35

Education:

Oak Lawn Community High School 1980 to 1982
Evergreen Park High School- 1982 to 1984
Moraine Valley Community College- Associates of Science degree in 1987
University of Illinois at Chicago- Bachelors of Science degree in physical therapy in 1989
University of Indianapolis- Master of Health Science degree in physical therapy in 1992
Nova Southeastern University- PhD in physical therapy in 2007

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

Endowment Member of NRA
Life Member of Illinois State Rifle Association
Associate Member of the Fraternal Order of Police
American Physical Therapy Association
Illinois Physical Therapy Association
National Strength and Conditioning Association
North American Spine Society
Health Volunteers Overseas
Sons of the American Legion in Tinley Park, Squad 615
Honor Flight Chicago
Land of Lincoln Honor Flight
Soldiers Guardian Angels
Patriot Guard Riders
Volunteer with many organizations including Public Action to Deliver Shelter "PADS"(Sacred Heart Church), Habitat for Humanity (Georgia, Haiti), Global Medical Brigade (Honduras), Health Volunteers Overseas (Peru, Ethiopia), and Honor Flight Chicago (11 flights serving as a guardian)

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

Appointed to serve on the Illinois Physical Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board and have served since May 5, 2009.

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

None

Campaign headquarters: Citizens for Ricardo A. Fernandez P.O. Box 150 Palos Park, IL 60464
Website: www.ricardoafernandez.com
Campaign manager:
Campaign budget: $3,000
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.
Have not yet formed a campaign committee or solicited any campaign contributions.

NA

NA

No. I do not support plans to burden the homeowners with further property tax increases to fix a problem that was caused by the politicians who refused to fund the pension program. Property taxes are high enough and homeowners are already struggling to keep their homes. I look at property taxes as a tax on the American dream. The accumulated tax burden is too high in Illinois. For example, there is a home in my village of Orland Park where the property taxes are already over $52,000 a year.

I would support a bill similar to SB1673 as long as the pension costs are not shifted to the local school districts.

We need to manage our limited resources more effectively. Medicaid enrollment in Illinois will increase to 4.5 million by 2019 which is three times more than it was a decade ago. The results from the Affordable Care Act are coming to Illinois and we cannot afford to give away free cell phones and free rides for everyone on Medicaid as stipulated in the law, for example. We also need lawsuit abuse reform to control escalating health care costs. Medicaid currently reimburses doctors so poorly that many doctors cannot afford to take any more patients on Medicaid.

I will work to repeal the personal income tax increase immediately.

We can promote job growth, assist businesses, and attract new businesses to the state by lowering the corporate income tax rate for all businesses in Illinois, not just a select few. On January 12, 2011 the corporate income tax rate increased from 4.8% to 7% and these are not set to expire until 2025. This tax increase needs to be repealed if we are going to remain competitive with our neighboring states.

I support the use of local VFW posts running video gaming because the receipts from video gaming will help our state, local municipalities and our veterans.

Illinois has the lowest credit rating among all of the other states because of "weak management practices." Our elected officials need to be more accountable to our taxpayers.

No. I don't support capping state party leaders' donations.

I will not support a shift to a progressive income tax.

In 2011 the average operating expenses per pupil in Illinois were $11,537. The expenses ranged between a low of $6,061 to a high of $26,225 per pupil. There are and will continue to be operating expense inequities inherent in the system based on many factors. There is no evidence that equal spending will mean equal outcomes.

I respect the sacred institution of marriage and believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.