Kankakee Times

Lindsay Parkhurst, the Republican candidate in House District 79, is willing to fight for the state if elected to serve as a state representative.

“Home is worth fighting for,” she said.

Parkhurst, a Kankakee attorney, will be facing incumbent Rep. Kate Cloonen (D-Kankakee) after she was nominated to run for the state House by the Kankakee County Republican Central Committee in December of last year. She has never run for political office before, but Parkhurst has a reputation for her inclination to help and fight for the little guy. In 2015, Parkhurst was named the recipient of the Prairie State Legal Services Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award for her work with clients who did not have the means to afford a lawyer.

In the eyes of Parkhurst, running for and being elected to the state House is just the next step in reaching a stage where she can help not just those who live in Kankakee County, but residents all across the state.

"I’m not a politician," Parkhurst said. "I never planned to run for office. I’ve been focused on raising my family, serving my clients and taking care of my father, but my time of sitting on the sidelines is over. I’ve seen firsthand how entrenched politicians fail to help taxpayers and Illinoisans in need and continue to waste our hard-earned tax dollars while lining their own pockets."

Parkhurst is a firm believer that Illinois can and will recover from the Great Recession of 2007-09, like surrounding states have already done, and that she will be able to create jobs, a task that Illinois has had trouble with since the recession. Her mission for creating jobs is stated on her website, https://lindsayparkhurst.com, on “The Issues” page under “Create Jobs.”

“Lindsay will help put an end to the mass exodus of jobs and businesses from Illinois,” her website reads. “Our state should be open for businesses to create stable employment and good wages for all. With sporadic tax hikes, confusing regulations and budget uncertainty, Springfield has not provided the stability and confidence that innovators and entrepreneurs need in order to invest in Illinois communities. Lindsay believes creating jobs and growing our economy is critical to balance the state budget and to put our state back on the path to fiscal solvency. Reducing red tape, opposing tax hikes and making it easier for businesses to form and expand will grow Illinois’ tax base and allow our communities to thrive once again.”

The sporadic tax hikes and confusing regulations noted by Parkhurst, as well as the unbalanced budget, has caused businesses and families to relocate from Illinois and settle in states that have a better, more optimistic, economic climate that is friendly to both businesses and families.

The lack of a state budget has caused a decrease in important services and education across Illinois. This has effected social services, higher education institutions and other agencies, causing them to have a hard time providing certain services to the less fortunate, the disabled, seniors and veterans as well as other underprivileged and underserved individuals.

Even though a state budget has yet to be established, 2015 court orders have guaranteed that funding will be granted to foster care and that the salaries of state employees and Medicaid providers would be paid.

The state House attempted to pass an unbalanced budget in June, but it was voted down by the Senate, which caused the Senate’s budget to be voted against by the House. This left Illinois with no budget and no means to fund education or other essential services. During a debate in May, Parkhurst called out her opponent, Cloonen, for voting in favor of the unbalanced budget.

A stopgap budget has since been passed to ensure that education and essential services receive funding, but the situation still looks bleak for the state of Illinois. Despite this, however, Parkhurst is optimistic about the state’s future.

Parkhurst said she believes that career politicians who have strongholds on their seats in the state legislature need to be removed and that the state government needs to work together to rebuild Illinois’ finances. She has also promised that she will fight for the funding of education.

"Illinoisans deserve a state government that cuts wasteful spending, balances its budget and lives within its means," Parkhurst said. "We deserve a state government where our politicians are term-limited. We deserve a state government that ensures all children, regardless of their ZIP code, have access to well-funded, high quality schools."