Linda Holmes for Illinois Senate
Thank you for visiting our site, and your interest in our campaign to win the District 42 State Senate seat!
Thanks to the many citizens of District 42 who have been supporting my campaign by volunteering to walk precints with me, donate to the campaign, host candidate meet and greets with their friends and neighbors, we have been able to reach out to thousands of voters over the course of the campaign. In these critical final weeks before November 7, so many of you are continuing to do the work it will take to succeed on November 7, and I thank you so much for your efforts!
I also wish to extend great thanks to the organizations who have endorsed my candidacy for the Illinois Senate, including the Illinois AFL-CIO; United Auto Workers; IBEW Locals 176 and 21; the Illinois Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 30; the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch No. 219; Veterans for Progress; the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. Your support and volunteers are making an enormous difference in our race!
I entered the political scene after a life time of community involvement as a private citizen. A solution-focused and active neighborhood advocate, I grew up in Hoffman Estates and have lived in Aurora with my husband Mike since 1983.
In addition to running a successful family home remodeling business, I have volunteered and worked with many wonderful community organizations, including the Sierra Club; the Humane Society of the United States; the National Audubon Society; the Natural Resources Defense Council; The Conservation Foundation; Special Olympics and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society among numerous other organizations.
A few years ago, a rash of burglaries hit the City of Aurora. In response, I am proud to say that my neighbors and I rolled up our sleeves to address the problem head on, actively working to improve the quality of life in our community. We formed the Near West Side Neighborhood Association, turned the situation around and continue to work toward the betterment of the community.
I am honored to continue working with the Near West Galena Planning Initiative; the Aurora Council of Neighbors (ACON); the Neighborhood Revitalization Team; Aurora Fox River Front Plan Committee; River Shore Vision Plan Committee; the Gateway Improvement Plan Committee and the Aurora Neighborhood Council (Co-Chair). I also serve as an Alderman Committee Member–Ward 6 Aurora, and am a graduate of the Citizen’s Police Academy.
In 2004, I was elected to the Kane County Board in District 2, winning the seat over a 24-year incumbent by knocking on the door of every voter in the District to hear and respond to their concerns. As a Board member, we work on an effective, bi-partisan basis to bring common sense solutions to the issues facing the County and allocate revenues wisely, conservatively and in the best interests of the citizens of our County.
Today, I continue to connect with the people of the community to ensure that all constituents are represented well and effectively at the County level, and will continue to do so at a broader level when elected to the Illinois Senate.
I firmly believe that just as business owners, individuals and families must be fiscally responsible, our government has the obligation to do the same. I will represent the 42nd District to ensure fiscal responsibility of our State government, while serving the needs of the people in District 42.
Issues:
Linda is a moderate Democrat who, as your Senator of the 42nd District, will bring a no-nonsense, common sense approach to the Illinois Senate. Linda has a reputation of listening to the “people” and speaking out on quality of life issues that affect our daily lives. Important issues to Linda are healthcare & health insurance, education (ensuring a strong and affordable higher education system for all), jobs and the economy (promote entrepreneurial spirit with opportunities), individual rights (the right for women to make decisions that affect her body), senior issues (concerns about affordable medical care, prescription drugs, high energy costs, while on a fixed income), environmental conservation (protecting and preserving the environment)
Linda believes that just as business owners, individuals and families must be financially responsible, so our government has the obligation to do the same. Linda wants to represent the 42nd District to ensure fiscal responsibility by our government, while serving the needs of her constituents.
Source: http://www.kanedems.org/node/288
Background: Long-time neighborhood activist and current Kane County Board member, Linda Holmes entered the political scene after a life time of community involvement as a private citizen. A solution-focused and active neighborhood advocate, Linda grew up in Hoffman Estates and has lived in Aurora with her husband Mike since 1983.
In addition to running a successful family home remodeling business, Linda has volunteered and worked with the Sierra Club; the Humane Society of the United States; the National Audubon Society; International Society for Animal Rights; the Natural Resources Defense Council; The Conservation Foundation; Special Olympics and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society among numerous other organizations.
Goals: The open seat in IL Senate District 42 is a very competitive, but winnable pick up for the Democratic party this year. As the District has grown exponentially over the past decade, more and more Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters have moved into the area.
Linda is running to be an advocate for the constituents of the District, and can bring the resources necessary to responsibly manage the continuing growth occurring in the area.
Issues: 1) Addressing the critical infrastructure needs of the rapidly growing communities throughout the District.
2) Finding ways to ensure that all Illinois citizens have access to quality, affordable health care.
3) Examining the State budget to determine how we can adequately and equitably fund public schooling so that all Illinois children have access to a first rate education, regardless of the neighborhood they live in.
Grassroots Support: Grassroots support will be crucial to winning this race. The Republican challenger is very well funded, but Linda Holmes is on the ground every day, walking door-to-door throughout the District. The campaign has been organizing canvassing efforts at the township level, and has a strong volunteer base. Adding to that base will be key to the campaign's success on November 7th!
DFA Values: Linda is in favor of full reproductive health rights for women, unlike her Republican challenger. She also favors funding for stem cell research, and is an active member of numerous environmental advocacy organizations. She favors equitable funding for public schools throughout the state, as well as access to quality, affordable health care for all citizens.
As a small business owner, Linda also understands the importance of fiscal responsibility first-hand. She has been an effective steward of taxpayer revenues as a member of the Kane County Board, working to allocate needed resources guided by a five year budget plan with the goal of eliminating property tax increases.
Source: http://www.dfalink.com/campaign.php?id=1708
Q: What are the most important issues you think need to be addressed in Illinois?
A: Education: We need a sustainable solution to school funding that guarantees every district a fair share and doesn’t rely too much on property taxes.
Healthcare: See my longer answer, below.
Common sense solutions: As a neighborhood advocate, I know it’s usually best to roll up your sleeves and work with everyone who has a stake in the effort. I’ll work with people on both sides of the aisle to get things done for our district – we deserve nothing less.
Q: How do you think issues with the state budget are best addressed? Do you believe the state budget can be balanced without raising taxes?
A: As a small business owner, I know how important it is to balance the books. You don’t last 19 years in the remodeling industry without being fiscally conservative.
Like a business, the State has an obligation to live within its means. When I’m in Springfield, I’ll fight to eliminate wasteful spending and prioritize the needs of the people of Illinois. I’ll also work to get the State to pay its bills on time so that our healthcare providers and other businesses can pay their own employees.
Q: What is the best way to ensure adequate health care to all Illinois residents?
A: As someone who has lived with MS for over 17 years, I know how important it is to have access to quality health care. I want to let small businesses like the one I own with my husband pool their resources to buy coverage for their employees.
I also support the new All Kids program, offering comprehensive health coverage to every child in Illinois. This sort of program is a model for the nation, making coverage available and affordable, regardless of income.
Linda and Mike Holmes also operate a home remodelling business in Aurora: http://www.creativecarpentry.net/
She is on the Kane County Board (District 02), and sits on the Administration and Human Services committees, and on the Utilization committee of the Kane County Forest Preserve: http://www.co.kane.il.us/COB/members/02holmes.asp
Blog posting about Wintermute vs. Holmes: http://openline.blogspot.com/2006/09/wintermute-proposes-anti-crime-package.html