Campaign info

• Position sought: Illinois Senate District 25
• Political party: Republican
• Website: www.jimoberweis.com
• E-mail address: jim4senate25@gmail.com
• Phone: 630-801-5370
• Address: 951 Ice Cream Dr., North Aurora, Illinois 60542

Personal info

• Age and Birthdate: 65, 06/10/1946
• Family: Wife Julie, Three daughters, two sons, a step daughter, a step son, and 16 grandchildren
• Education: Marmion Military Academy, University of Illinois, Urbana, B/A, University of Chicago, MBA
• Occupation: Chairman, Oberweis Dairy, Founder of Oberweis Asset Management, Oberweis Securities, and the Oberweis Mutual Funds, FINRA arbitrator
• Previous Elected or Appointed Offices: Illinois Republican State Central Committee, 14^th Congressional District

Candidate questions

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position? I have spent the last 40 years starting and building companies.  Since I have owned Oberweis Dairy we have grown it from 50 employees to over 1000 today.  I know how to cut spending.  I’ve negotiated union contracts.  I understand what entrepreneurs and business people are looking for to consider starting and expanding businesses in Illinois.

What would your priorities be if elected to this office? Cutting taxes, reducing spending and solving our pension problem

What sets you apart from the other candidates? I believe I am the only candidate who has started businesses and created over 1,000 jobs.  If we need business principles applied in Springfield, why not send a businessman?  To the best of my knowledge, I am also the only candidate to have signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge and the only candidate to have signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge to vote against all tax increases and to fight to roll back the recent “temporary” Illinois tax increase.

What should first be done by the state to keep businesses that have strongly voiced the possibility of leaving, such as CME and Sears? Roll back the tax increase rather give special breaks to a select few companies.  Provide Workman’s Comp. reform, perhaps modeling after some of our successful neighboring states.  Medicaid reform.  Pension reform to end the job killing deficit that we are currently suffering under.  CUT SPENDING.

What can be done to help College Illinois? College Illinois must be fully funded.  It is the pattern in this state to start programs that are not fully funded (because to fully fund would leave them much less popular) and then end up with financial problems when

What should the government do to create more jobs? Roll back the tax increase.  Provide Workman’s Comp. reform, perhaps modeling after some of our successful neighboring states.  Medicaid reform.  Pension reform to end the job killing deficit that we are currently suffering under.  CUT SPENDING.  Send a message that Illinois is open for new business.

What are your philosophies on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, and what should government’s role in those issues? I believe marriage is a contract between one man and one woman.  I believe that life is important and begins at conception.

Do you support a gaming bill that would increase the number of casinos or other gambling venues in Illinois? Should a casino be built in Chicago? No.  I believe that gambling is an unreliable revenue source and frequently has hidden costs.  It also tends to be a “tax” on those who can least afford it.

What do you suggest for property tax relief? Limiting the allowed levy and the rate of increase.

Should the state consider consolidating school districts? What would be the best way to accomplish this in your legislative district? Yes

Should the state legalize marijuana? We should look carefully at our drug problems in Illinois and in the U.S.  Far too many people are incarcerated and a large percentage of them are on drug related charges.  I’m not sure the best way to solve the problem but I believe we must be open to new ideas and new research.

Are there ways to reform the legislative scholarship program, or would you support calls to eliminate the program? It has been abused in Illinois and should be ended.  Scholarships should be based on merit and need, not on political connestions.

Who are your political heroes and why? Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.  They were men of courage, not afraid to take to the liberal press and popular notions of the time.  They were committed to the founding principles or our country including limited government and lower tax rates for all.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony, sued successfully or had a restraining order placed against you? If so, please explain. No.