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NAME: Paul Serwatka

POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE A CANDIDATE:

Illinois House of Representatives – 66th Dist.

  1. Why are you seeking this position?

I am running to be our next state representative because I believe politicians have destroyed our quality of life in Illinois and I believe that sending more professional politicians to Springfield will only make things worse.

I believe we are in dire need of principled leadership in Illinois. We need representatives with a sincere desire to serve people, to enrich the taxpayer and to empower families and that is exactly the leader that I pledge to be.

  1. What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?

I do  not  believe  that  a  representative  with  “political  experience”  is,  at  all,  what  we  so  desperately need. Our General Assembly is chock full of some of the most experienced politicians in this country and, yet, we are just about the worst state in every measurable category. Without integrity and a sincere desire to selflessly serve, all the political experience in the world has proven only to lead to the dismal failure that Illinois exemplifies.

I believe the foremost qualities of an effective representative are:

  • Courage – To take a stand and face the issues that are crippling so many families
  • Principles – To know and do what is right, regardless of personal benefit
  • Fortitude – To stand against, and fight, the corrupt, self-serving politicians who continue to enrich themselves at our

I am a former firefighter/paramedic – currently a small business owner – but, most importantly, I am a father of four young children with very real concerns for their future.

That being said, I was recently elected as a write-in candidate, to be a Lakewood Village Trustee. In my campaign I pledged to stop more than a decade of annual property tax hikes. In my first year in office, I led the fight to freeze property taxes as promised!

Today, I pledge two things to the taxpaying families of this district. Once elected, my first action will be to establish a Property Tax Relief Fund to combat the extreme property taxes that are crushing so many families.

Second, to “jump-start” these efforts, my first year in office, I will contribute my entire salary to this fund to immediately begin efforts to initiate real reform in local government/taxing bodies, where our property taxes are affected most.

This fund will be the first of its kind and I have complete confidence that it will have real, tangible effects on the horrendous amount of property taxes we pay.

  1. What will be your greatest challenge if elected?

Getting started in the General Assembly, I see my greatest challenge to be establishing myself, and gaining acceptance, as the anti-status quo representative that I will be. It seems to be customary for ‘the new guy” to be expected to “fall in line” and sort of “go with the flow” until he “learns the ropes”. But, this is just not in my constitution. I will serve based on principle from day one and I will be vigilant in encouraging others to do the same.

Release for publication:       X        yes

I will attend the forum:                

    X        no I will not be able to attend

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