Name

Don Castella

Position Sought

30th State Senate

Campaign Contact Information

Website: http://www.donforillinois.com
Email: don@donforillinois.com
Phone: 847-275-5542
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Castella-for-Illinois-State-Senate-District/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doncastellaforillinois/
Twitter: @doncastella

Age and Birthdate

64

Family

Married to late wife, Susan, for 36 years.

Education

University of Illinois, Geological Science, Computer Science

Occupation

Retired Data Communications Engineer

Political Party

Republican

Official name of your campaign committee (if you have one)

Citizens for Don Castella

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices

Chairman, Vernion Township Republican Central Committee 2006-2012

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position?

Active in local community, including local homeowner's association and in local, state, and national political organizations.

What would your priorities be if elected to this office?

• Improve Illinois Job Climate
• Budget reform
• Pay Down Illinois past-due bills
• Pension reform
• Medicaid reform
• Government Transparency

What are the most important issues facing your district and what would you do as a legislator to address them?

Jobs. I would work to reduce regulatory and tax burdens on Illinois businesses, especially small businesses. Illinois  must spend less, tax less, and reduce regulations on small-businesses that create 2/3 of Illinois jobs.

Illinois’ state government has a terrible reputation in terms of corruption. What would you do to change the culture of state government that has seen recent governors from both political parties convicted of felonies?

Increase government transparency, reform campaign finance laws to eliminate incumbent campaign funding advantages. Illinois has too many career politicians, but too few small-business entrepreneurs in the General Assembly.

Education in Illinois is funded primarily through local property taxes. What changes, if any, would make to that funding system?

I would work to restore local school board transparency and accountability for spending and pension decisions. I would support school choice where appropriate to help introduce competition and innovation to education.

Illinois recently passed a significant increase in its income tax, yet the state continues to run a deficit. What specifically should be done to reduce the deficit?

Cut spending. Introduce zero-based budgeting. Eliminate redundant or conflicting programs. Repeal recent Income Tax increases, reduce tax penalties on earnings and investment to increase economic growth, avoid unfair 'sin' taxes, make state budget transparent and increase budget accountability, privatize state services where appropriate, avoid special employer deals (corporate welfare/crony capitalism), enact tax and spending caps, reform Medicaid and Pension programs, eliminate political patronage, protect public sector employees from politics.

Illinois’ unfunded pension liability is $83 billion. The state’s inability to address the issue recently led Moody’s to downgrade Illinois’ credit rating. What should be done to address the state’s rising pension obligations?

• Revise retirement age and/or employment term requirements
• Revise COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustments)
• Revise Retiree Health insurance contributions
• Change new employees and opt-in employees to Defined Contribution Pension Plans

Why would you do a better job representing the district than your opponent? If you are running unopposed, please just share why you are qualified for the position.

I have signed the front of paychecks. I am not a career politician. My experience as a small-business entrepreneur helps me identify with job-creators.