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Political affiliation: Green Party

City: Belvidere

Marital status: single

Occupation/Firm name: No response

Campaign HQ address: same as home address

Campaign website: www.blackforattorneygeneral.com

What is your campaign budget- Under $1,000 at this time

What do you consider to be the most important roles and responsibilities of this office-

The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer in the State. That being said, I see a vital role in policing political corruption. In Illinois the mixing of money has been one of our most glaring problems. I am proud that the Green Party does not accept corporate donations. I moved to Illinois at the time Secretary of State Paul Powell died and shoe boxes full of cash were found in his residence. Since I have lived here a majority of the former governors have been sentenced to jail for money related crimes. If elected Attorney General, I pledge to use the power of that office to route out corruption and take political money out of government.

What are your top priorities for the office- For challengers, would you move in a direction different than the course set by Attorney General Lisa Madigan-

As stated above, ending "pay for play" would be one of my top priorities. The current Attorney General has amassed a vast campaign warchest, most of it coming from indivuduals, businesses, or other entities doing business with the State.

Given the state's budget crisis, what would you cut or scale back in the AG's office-

I would shift the state's drug policy away from expensive incarceration to treatment and prevention. I would eliminate the use of high priced outside legal counsel. I would review all aspects of the current office and programs and eliminate those that are not protecting the citizens of Illinois.

Do you favor statewide grand jury authority for the AG's office-

Yes

Should the AG's office have a legislative agenda and take the lead in lobbying in Springfield-

The office should have a legislative agenda on key issues like ethics and drug policy and then advocate for this agenda.

Should the Legislature make any changes to the campaign finance law passed in 2009- Would you support capping donations from party leaders during general elections-

The legislation clearly did not go far enough. I would support capping donations from party leaders, the present system gives them excessive power and influence.

What can be done to strengthen implementation of the new FOIA law- New legislation has exempted performance evaluations of public employees and public school teachers and administrators. Do you support these changes or would you push to reverse them-

The law was just strengthened. We need to see how the changes play out. Given the subjective nature of performance evaluations, I favor their exemption from the law.

Under what circumstances, if any, should the Attorney General refuse to defend a state official, state employee or the constitutionality of a dubious state statute-

State officials accused of corruption are not entiled to defense at state expense unless the are indigent and qualify for a public defender. Laws that are clearly unconstitutional, like the current moment of silence in the schools, should not be defended on appear as they waste state resources and likely lead to rulings where the state has to pay the legal expenses of the party bringing the challenge.

Would you move to reduce the use of outside legal counsel in the AG's office-

Yes. This is a waste of State resources when there is a great deal of expertise already in the Attorney General's Office.

List your educational background

BA Oakland University: MA, PhD The University of Michiagn; JD DePaul University College of Law

Please list civic, professional, fraternal or other organizations to which you belong

I am a member of Big Brothers, the Rockford Peace and Justice Action Committee, CUB, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Sierra Club.

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

No

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

None

Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed

I do not have any contributors, including myself, who have given over $500 to my campaign. #Comments_Container, #Comments_Container1,#commentsonly,.StoryInteract{display:none;}