Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am running for Congress because Illinois’ 7th District has been governed by career politics rather than measurable results. For too long, residents have been told to accept decline as inevitable; vacant lots where homes once stood, schools closing as families leave, rising property taxes to compensate for a shrinking tax base, and systems that consume public dollars without delivering public benefit. That approach has failed, and the consequences are visible in every neighborhood.
I reject the idea that decline is permanent or acceptable. I am running to bring disciplined leadership, fiscal accountability, and a community first governing philosophy to Congress. My focus is on restoring housing stability, rebuilding a functional business environment, and ensuring that working families are no longer forced to carry the cost of government mismanagement. That means demanding accountability for federal dollars, enforcing oversight where funds have been misused, and aligning federal policy with outcomes that strengthen neighborhoods rather than hollow them out.
This campaign is about practical solutions, not rhetoric. I believe government should be judged by what it produces; safer communities, stable housing, accessible opportunity, and institutions that work for the people they serve. I bring experience in finance, education, and community leadership, and I understand how federal policy decisions translate into real world consequences at the local level.
Illinois’ 7th District deserves representation that is independent, serious, and focused on results. I am running to turn the page on complacency and deliver measurable progress for the families who live and work here.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The most pressing issue facing our communities is housing instability, driven by decades of mismanagement and the underutilization of federal resources. For years, federal housing funds have been hoarded rather than deployed to address urgent needs, while the long-term fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis has left neighborhoods hollowed out and families destabilized. Vacant homes, neglected properties, and underfunded housing programs have contributed to declining school enrollment, rising property taxes, and weakened local economies, creating a cycle that traps communities in decline.
Addressing this challenge requires decisive, results-driven leadership. I will push for aggressive federal oversight of housing authorities to ensure that funds are used efficiently, transparently, and in alignment with community priorities. Federal dollars must be tied to measurable outcomes, including occupancy rates, redevelopment progress, and long-term neighborhood stabilization, so that investments deliver real benefits to residents.
In addition, I will advocate for incentives that accelerate the redevelopment of vacant lots and distressed properties, transforming underutilized spaces into housing, commercial opportunities, and community resources. Housing investment must also be coordinated with school stability, workforce development, and local economic growth, ensuring that revitalization efforts are holistic and sustainable. By linking housing policy to education, employment, and economic opportunity, we can rebuild neighborhoods from the ground up.
Through stronger oversight, targeted incentives, and strategic alignment of federal resources, we can restore safe, affordable, and vibrant housing in our district. These efforts will stabilize families, strengthen schools, and revitalize local economies, giving residents the security and opportunity they deserve.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
Our district faces the compounding effects of vacancy: vacant lots, vacant schools and vacant housing. The most pressing issue facing our communities is housing instability, driven by decades of mismanagement and the underutilization of federal resources. For years, federal housing funds have been hoarded rather than deployed to address urgent needs, while the long term fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis has left neighborhoods hollowed out and families destabilized. Vacant homes, neglected properties, and underfunded housing programs have contributed to declining school enrollment, rising property taxes, and weakened local economies, creating a cycle that traps communities in decline.
Addressing this challenge requires decisive, results focused leadership. I will push for aggressive federal oversight of housing authorities to ensure that funds are used efficiently, transparently, and in alignment with community priorities. Federal dollars must be tied to measurable outcomes, including occupancy rates, redevelopment progress, and long-term neighborhood stabilization, so that investments deliver real benefits to residents.
In addition, I will advocate for incentives that accelerate the redevelopment of vacant lots and distressed properties, transforming underutilized spaces into housing, commercial opportunities, and community resources. Housing investment must also be coordinated with school stability, workforce development, and local economic growth, ensuring that revitalization efforts are holistic and sustainable. By linking housing policy to education, employment, and economic opportunity, we can rebuild neighborhoods from the ground up.
Through stronger oversight, targeted incentives, and strategic alignment of federal resources, we can restore safe, affordable, and vibrant housing in our district. These efforts will stabilize families, strengthen schools, and revitalize local economies, giving residents the security and opportunity they deserve.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
Federal immigration reform must restore the rule of law while preserving legal immigration that serves the national interest. I support a quota based immigration system similar to those historically employed in the United States, with annual admissions capped at a fixed percentage of the population, maximum 3%, to ensure that immigration levels remain sustainable, orderly, and aligned with the country’s capacity to absorb new arrivals. Such a system would provide predictability for both policymakers and prospective immigrants while allowing the United States to prioritize individuals whose skills, experience, and contributions strengthen our economy and society.
At the same time, immigration law must be enforced consistently and uniformly. This includes federal prosecution for individuals or entities that knowingly obstruct or interfere with immigration officers and Border Patrol agents in the lawful execution of their duties. Without enforcement, policies meant to protect our borders and manage migration are rendered meaningless, and the system becomes unpredictable and chaotic. True compassion is not the absence of rules; it is ensuring that laws are applied fairly and consistently so that resources are directed to those who comply with our legal framework and contribute positively to our communities.
A credible immigration system requires clear limits, transparent procedures, lawful entry, and the political will to uphold these standards. By combining a structured, quota based approach with rigorous enforcement, the United States can secure its borders, protect national interests, and maintain the integrity of its immigration system for generations to come.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
Congress must address rising health care costs by confronting the structural cost shifting built into the system. Safety net hospitals, which serve a disproportionate share of Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients, face chronic underpayment and limited access to affordable credit. These hospitals are critical to the health of our communities, providing essential services to vulnerable populations who might otherwise go without care. When these institutions cannot finance capital improvements, invest in modern technology, or retain qualified staff, operational inefficiencies increase, and costs ripple across the entire health care market, ultimately impacting patients, employers, and taxpayers alike.
Medicaid reimbursement rates that fail to cover the true cost of care exacerbate the problem. Providers are often forced to compensate by shifting costs to private insurers, who, in turn, pass those increases onto families and employers through higher premiums. This hidden mechanism of cost shifting places an undue burden on middle class households and undermines trust in the system.
Congress should take decisive action to stabilize safety net hospital financing by modernizing Medicaid reimbursement formulas, ensuring that payments reflect the actual cost of delivering high quality care. Expanding responsible access to capital for these hospitals will allow them to invest in infrastructure, technology, and workforce development, improving efficiency and patient outcomes. By addressing structural cost shifting, Congress can reduce premiums, protect access to essential services, and promote the long term sustainability of the American health care system, ensuring that hospitals serving our most vulnerable populations are equipped to meet growing demands without compromising quality or affordability.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
A deteriorating business environment leads directly to tax base erosion, which in turn shifts fiscal pressure onto residential property owners. When commercial and industrial properties underperform, remain vacant, or fail to generate expected revenue, municipalities must compensate by increasing effective property tax rates on homeowners in order to meet fixed obligations such as pensions, debt service, and essential public services. This dynamic disproportionately affects working and middle class families, who often have limited flexibility in their household budgets, and can accelerate outmigration as residents seek communities with more stable tax structures and economic opportunities. Over time, this cycle undermines both local economic vitality and community cohesion.
My approach to tax policy prioritizes broadening the tax base rather than increasing tax rates. At the federal level, this means supporting policies that incentivize small business formation, encourage commercial reinvestment, and promote workforce participation. By fostering a more vibrant and diversified economy, local governments can maintain revenue streams without placing undue burdens on homeowners. Additionally, federal tax and spending policies should exercise discipline, avoiding mandates that strain state and local budgets or force municipalities to shift costs onto residents.
The ultimate goal is fiscal stability achieved through economic growth rather than punitive taxation. When the economy is healthy and businesses thrive, the tax base naturally expands, reducing the pressure on individual homeowners and strengthening the capacity of communities to fund essential services. By aligning tax policy with economic opportunity, we can create a system in which growth, fairness, and sustainability work together to support families and communities alike.
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
The House of Representatives is not currently using its oversight powers consistently or effectively. Oversight is a fundamental responsibility of Congress, intended to ensure that federal programs operate efficiently, taxpayers’ dollars are spent responsibly, and public services deliver meaningful results. Unfortunately, oversight today is often performative or driven by partisan priorities rather than by a commitment to rigorous evaluation and accountability. This undermines public trust and prevents meaningful reform where it is most needed.
Critical areas demand closer attention. Housing authorities, federal benefit programs, and administrative agencies with large discretionary budgets must be subject to thorough and continuous oversight. These programs directly affect millions of Americans, yet when they fail to meet their objectives, the consequences are borne by communities and families who rely on their services. Oversight should identify inefficiencies, prevent waste and fraud, and ensure that taxpayer funds are allocated in ways that genuinely improve outcomes.
Effective oversight also requires discernment. Programs that demonstrably work and provide essential services should be protected and strengthened. Conversely, programs that fail communities, mismanage funds, or do not achieve their stated goals must be reformed or, if necessary, defunded. A results driven approach ensures that Congress prioritizes public benefit over politics, fosters accountability, and maximizes the impact of federal resources.
By using its oversight powers consistently, transparently, and strategically, the House can restore confidence in government, drive meaningful reform, and ensure that federal programs truly serve the people who depend on them. Oversight is not a political tool; it is a responsibility, and it must be exercised with diligence and purpose.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
The most urgent foreign policy challenge facing our country today is the fallout from fractured narcoterrorism networks operating across Mexico; networks that reach directly into our communities, headquartered in my district. When these criminal organizations are only partially disrupted, the violence, human trafficking, fentanyl distribution, and financial crime they fuel don’t disappear; they spread, embedding themselves deeper into American neighborhoods. Families, schools, and local businesses bear the real cost of these failures.
As your representative, I believe the House must take a stronger, more accountable role in addressing this threat. Congress must conduct rigorous oversight of federal agencies, ensure border security funding is effective, and hold the US-Mexico partnership to its highest standards. Counter narcotics and counter terrorism efforts should be intelligence driven, coordinated across agencies, and focused on dismantling entire networks not just creating temporary disruption.
We must also empower law enforcement and communities at the local level. That means strengthening tools to combat money laundering, seizing illicit assets, and protecting neighborhoods from cartel linked crime. Federal resources must reach the places that feel these threats every day, so families and local officials have the support they need to fight back.
Our national security and public safety depend on decisive action, not delays or half measures. By taking a strategic, results driven approach, we can keep dangerous networks out of our communities, protect families, and restore confidence in our government’s ability to confront threats at home and abroad. I will fight to make sure your safety and your voice comes first.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
Artificial intelligence represents one of the most transformative forces of our time, offering enormous opportunity for innovation, economic growth, and societal advancement. At the same time, it carries real and complex risks that must be addressed proactively. Unchecked, AI has the potential to compromise data privacy, threaten national security, and displace workers across industries, creating significant economic and social disruption.
Government has a critical role to play in ensuring that the benefits of AI are realized while its risks are mitigated. This means setting clear guardrails around sensitive areas such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and national security, as well as establishing standards for transparency and accountability in algorithmic decision-making. It also means preparing our workforce for the future by investing in retraining programs, education, and partnerships that help workers adapt to a rapidly evolving labor market.
At the same time, regulation must be targeted and carefully calibrated. Overly broad or restrictive rules could stifle innovation, slow technological progress, and hinder American competitiveness on the global stage. Effective AI policy should be developed collaboratively, incorporating input from industry leaders, labor representatives, educators, and researchers to ensure that solutions are practical, and balanced.
By taking a proactive, thoughtful approach, government can create a framework that protects citizens, secures our nation, and supports a thriving AI ecosystem. Responsible oversight will allow innovation to flourish, while ensuring that the advantages of artificial intelligence are shared broadly, safely, and equitably across society.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
I believe the Republican Party has a unique opportunity to connect with urban communities that have felt the direct consequences of failed Democratic policies. In districts like the 7th Congressional District, voters are facing record property tax increases, strained public services, and declining quality of life. These are all outcomes of progressive policies that prioritized open borders and unchecked spending over the needs of residents. For too long, hardworking families have been left behind, forced to navigate the chaos of bureaucracy and the neglect of legislative leaders who failed to protect their interests.
This moment is an opportunity for the Republican Party to demonstrate that there is an alternative; a political party that puts Americans first, prioritizing accountability, safety, and economic opportunity. We can show residents that government should work for them, not against them, and that civic relief is possible when policies are designed to stabilize communities, restore public services, and protect taxpayer resources.
Moving forward, the party must adopt strategies that are pragmatic, focused on results, and rooted in local realities. This means engaging directly with communities, addressing the tangible consequences of policy failures, and offering concrete solutions for housing, safety, education, and economic growth. In a district that has suffered under the policies of the DNC for far too long, the Republican Party has the chance to build a new political landscape; one that reflects the priorities of the people and restores faith in government. By showing residents that their concerns are heard and acted upon, we can redefine the party’s relationship with urban America and create lasting, positive change.