Tom Schlenhardt: 2024 candidate for Illinois Senate District 27

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Illinois Senate District 27

City: Arlington Heights

Age: 55

Occupation: Consultant

Previous offices held:

How should the state respond to the influx of migrants bussed here from Southern states?

As a son of immigrants, I highly value the contributions of immigrants to the fabric of our state and country. Unfortunately, we have a broken immigration system and the federal government should be taking the lead on fixing it and also remedying the influx of immigrants. As Chicago is a sanctuary city, it is upon the city to take on the responsibility of what to do with migrants that arrive here. I do not believe that it should be the state taking on the financial burden of poor federal policy and Chicago having a policy of being a sanctuary city.

Are you satisfied with the state's existing ethics policies for senators and representatives? If so, what about the policies should reassure Illinoisans that elected leaders abide by high standards? If not, what changes need to be made?

There is a lot of work to do in Illinois in terms of ethics. It is no secret that Illinois and political corruption are basically synonymous.

I am in favor of a proposal that would give citizens the ability to propose ethics-related constitutional amendments on the ballot. This is also supported by former Democratic Governor Quinn.

I have seven proposals to address Illinois' ethics crisis:

Not stopping bills in the Rules Committee. Once a bill is introduced it should immediately go to the subject matter committee and be scheduled for debate and a vote.

The process of the leader of the House and Senate appointing committee chairs should be abolished.

No swapping of legislators from one committee to another before a vote.

Stop the use of shell bills to pass unread legislation.

Give lawmakers a reliable schedule for voting on bills.

Place term limits on House and Senate leadership.

Term limits for House and Senate members as well as the Governor.

Would you support a requirement that election petitions include a line asking candidates for their campaign email address?

No

How well do you think criminal justice reforms made in recent years are working? What, if any, changes need to be made?

Although the fears of ending cash bail in the state have fortunately not come to fruition, there is the concern of the recent statistic put out from the Cook County Clerk of the Court stating that 3 out of 4 unconfined defendants have failed to show up for their court dates over that past year. This is an alarming new trend and should be closely monitored.

Also, in order to keep Illinois residents safe, greater judicial guidance on releasing violent offenders should be implemented within the pretrial process. Although all are presumed innocent until proven guilty, public safety should be first and foremost and those with prior violent criminal history should not be released before trial.

Also, more police should be on the beat within communities and local and state government should provide the necessary resources for this as well as ongoing extensive training.

We now have an assault weapons ban in Illinois. What if any changes should be made to the law? What more can be done to improve gun safety?

Although I am not in favor of making any changes to the law, the bench trial in federal court on this law has concluded with the pending decision to be made in the coming months. Depending on the judges decision, this law will most likely be brought to the US Supreme Court based on the constitutionality of the law. Nonetheless, I do support the intent behind this law, while also protecting the right of self-defense from the non-law abiding individuals that may have access to assault weapons, since all said weapons purchased prior to the law are still legal if properly registered with the state.

I am also in favor of rigorous and comprehensive training and safety safeguards for all legally owned guns.

Illinois is the only state in the nation that mandates regular behind-the-wheel tests for senior drivers. Do you support any changes?

Currently, Illinois requires drivers renewing their driver's license at the age of 75 and over to take a behind the wheel test. I believe that safety is imperative on our roads and that as we grow older we need to ensure that each driver has the physical motor skills to be safe behind the wheel. In 2022, the number of traffic deaths — 8,572 — involving a driver 65 and older was the highest since at least 1975. Although, I believe that further studies should be considered for the appropriate age when this test should be required. Therefore, I am against this current mandate.

What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?

I have served within Illinois state government in both the executive and legislative capacity under four governors going back over 25 years. Currently owning my own business, I am attuned to the issues facing small business and the costly and burdensome regulations and taxes that add to the ever increasing costs of doing business in Illinois. As a father of two current public school children and a homeowner, I am attuned to the current challenges facing parents within the 27th Senate District and the rising costs, taxes, and fees facing families on an everyday basis. As a lawyer and with my legislative experience as both a private sector lobbyist and legislative liaison for state agencies, I have an excellent understanding of how to balance the needs of the private sector as well as the needs of state government to regulate and implement state law and administrative rules for the betterment of the economy as well as ensuring that state government does so in a fiscally sound manner.