Republican Tom Ernst entered the race with
little time to campaign, but he is still
excited about the chance of representing the
Illinois 47th State Senate
District’s 13 counties in Springfield.
“I have been walking door-to-door meeting
people in the district and listening to their
concerns. They have the same concerns as I do
– namely, that Chicago politics are dictating
the way we live our life in west-central
Illinois,” Ernst says.
“The late start has just made me work harder
and with more passion; and the people have
been very receptive to my message.”
For many years, State Sen. Laura Kent Donahue
was unopposed in the elections each time
around. That changed with John Sullivan, a
Rushville auctioneer, who ran against her in
2002. His surprise win showed that even the
safe districts are no longer predictable.
Sullivan was the Democratic Party’s new hope
in downstate Illinois.
Two years later, Sullivan himself is facing
the same problem. The latest poll shows Ernst
losing but in the same place Sullivan was
during his 2002 race. Will he be forced out
of office by a comeback candidate, as was
Donahue?
Gary Speckhart withdrew from the election
after only nine days on the campaign in April,
and the Republicans needed a replacement right
away. The party’s choice was Ernst.
“I had actually been considering running for a
local office in Quincy. When I was approached
to run for the Senate, I was flattered that
they would consider me. At this time, I was
also starting to see that state government was
going in the wrong direction and wanted to see
changes,” he says.
Q: It is Jan. 2005,
and you are starting your first session as a
state senator. What are you going to do for
the 47th District?
A: Jobs are the most pressing concern here in
the 47th district. I have a three-pronged plan
to address job growth in Illinois. First, I
plan to introduce legislation requiring “Job
Impact Notes” before new laws are passed so
lawmakers know the local impact on local jobs.
Next, I want a Constitutional Amendment to
prevent the Governor’s raids on the Road Fund
and return $600 million to help build new
roads and repair our current roads. Last but
not least, I want to separate the Illinois
Farm Development Authority and Illinois Rural
Bond Bank from the Chicago-based Illinois
Finance Authority and return them to the
independent, agriculture and rural community
focused agencies they once were. My plan is
for state government to create and retain
jobs, not send them across state lines. I will
fight for fair funding at our universities,
community colleges and K-12 grades. I will
fight to keep agriculture the number one
Industry in Illinois. The most important thing
I will do is cast my vote for a Senate
President who shares our values – not the
current President who pushes his anti-gun,
pro-abortion, gay rights, borrow-and-spend
agenda on our local communities.
Q: Had you ever
thought of running for office before, or was
this something you had just decided on
recently?
A: I was elected to the Quincy Park Board for
12 years and for a period of nine years was
given the responsibility as President of the
Board. Politics is not new to me, but I feel
that things are going in the wrong direction
at the state level. I saw our current
representation going along with the
Blagojevich agenda, and I felt it was time for
a new voice in the Illinois Senate.
Q: Gary Speckhart stepped out of the race
so quickly. When that happened, how did you
react? Were you asked to run, or did you just
feel like you were ready to enter the
campaign?
A: After my last park board election, my wife
jokingly suggested that if I was going to
continue running for office, I should at least
run for one that actually pays me for the time
I put in. I had had this comment in the back
of mind, and at the time Gary stepped out of
the race, I had actually been considering
running for a local office in Quincy. When I
was approached to run for the Senate, I was
flattered that they would consider me. At this
time, I was also starting to see that state
government was going in the wrong direction
and wanted to see changes.
I talked it over with my kids; and Drew was
very upfront that he wanted me to run for the
Senate. My daughter, Elizabeth, kept her
thoughts to herself. When I finally made up my
mind and told the kids that I would run for
the Senate seat, Elizabeth had a big smile on
her face and said, “Good, that’s what I wanted
you to do.” I knew then that I had made the
right decision.
Q: People in the area have learned a lot
about Sen. Sullivan since his successful 2002
campaign and his two years in the State
Senate. For someone entering the race seven
months before the election, how have you been
able to compete with that?
A: Since declaring my candidacy, I have faced
the same difficulties that any candidate faces
when running for office – setting up an
office, recruiting volunteers and getting my
name out. But, it wasn't long until my
campaign was going full swing and at this
point, I cannot see any negatives to the late
start. I have been walking door-to-door
meeting people in the district and listening
to their concerns. They have the same concerns
as I do – namely, that Chicago politics are
dictating the way we live our life in
west-central Illinois. The late start has just
made me work harder and with more passion; and
the people have been very receptive to my
message.
Q: If elected, you have said that you'd
like to pass medical malpractice reform
legislation. You told The Daily Review Atlas,
"Once again, Chicago Democrats are putting
their priorities first; and, unfortunately
their interests got in the way." What are the
problems you see in Illinois' current system?
A: The current administration and President of
the Senate have refused to hear any
significant legislation on medical malpractice
reform. We are experiencing a health care
crisis in Illinois, which is driving our
doctors away. Some argue that the lack of
progress is because of the powerful trial
lawyer lobby, or that this is a downstate
issue and Chicago is ignoring it.
I believe there is some truth to both. The
only way to keep doctors in Illinois is to
introduce legislation that would institute
caps on medical damages received after all
medical bills are paid. We need reform in the
courts, in the medical field, and in the
insurance industry to make medical malpractice
reform meaningful.
My opponent is against this legislation
because it is not in his caucus's agenda. If
something isn't done soon, west-central
Illinois will start losing its doctors at the
rate that downstate is losing doctors.
Already, I have heard of two doctors in
Rushville who are no longer delivering babies
because of the high insurance rates. That is
where it started in the Metro East. I don't
want my constituents to have to drive two
hours or cross state lines to see a doctor. If
something meaningful isn't done soon, we will
see more of this trend here.
Q: Your latest commercial also attacks
Chicago Democrats, saying that you
wish to create more jobs, which is a common
message for many campaigns. How
would you be different than Sullivan - what is
your plan for creating job growth?
A: I would not vote to tax business another
$300 million like my opponent did.
I would not vote for a budget that the current
administration tried to bully through the
session that cut downstate colleges and gave
more money to Chicago colleges. I would not
have voted to close three prisons in
economically depressed areas downstate, and I
would not have voted to reduce funding for the
Quincy Veterans Home while every other
veterans home in the state received additional
funding. These are just a few examples of what
I would have done differently from my
opponent. The most important vote I will
cast is for a Senate President who shares our
values not the current President who pushes
his anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-gay, and
borrow-and-spend agendas.
Q: What is your most important campaign
promise, and how will you keep it if
elected?
A: Throughout this
campaign I have said two things that seem to
resonate with area residents: that “I will be
a voice, not an echo” and that “if it's right
for the 47th District, then it's right for
me.” If I follow those guidelines, the rest
will all fall in line.
Q: What is the most valuable thing you have
gained from this campaign?
A: The most valuable thing I have gained from
this campaign is hard to pinpoint. There has
been so much of this experience that has been
valuable. Still, I would say two things stick
out in my mind. First, that I have gained a
better understanding of how government works
and how one person's decision to go along or
to stand up and fight can make all the
difference for so many people. Second, the
friendships that I have renewed on the
campaign trail and the new friends I have
made. In the past few months, I have run into
so many old friends with whom I had lost touch
over the years and made so many new friends as
well. That has definitely been worthwhile.
Whatever the result on Nov. 2, I will have
both of these personal victories to take with
me.
Politics
Today 
Politics
Today:
Tom Ernst (R)
for District 47 State Senate