Republican

Ryan Stookey

Belleville

Age: 34

Married

Children: 1

Job: Insurance consultant

Phone: (618) 570-3952

Web: www.votestookey.com

Facebook: facebook.com/votestookey

Twitter: @votestookey

E-mail: stookey2012@gmail.com

Education: Bachelor's in finance, SIUC

Previous offices: --

Qualifications: The Stookey family has deep roots in Southern Illinois and is fully committed to its future. My great, great, great grandfather, Daniel Stookey, was one of the first settlers in what is now St. Clair County, coming to the area in 1802. Along with being a small business owner in the insurance field, I would bring a fresh voice and solid heritage to the office.

Top issues: I decided to run for the Illinois General Assembly after they passed the largest tax increase in Illinois history in January 2011. With the Illinois unemployment rate continuing to remain higher than the national average, and businesses refusing to set up shop in Southern Illinois because of the high tax rates and political instability, families are being forced to move away to neighboring states with better business incentives. This is not the Illinois that I want for my family, and not the Illinois I want to present to my daughter and her future family.