Democrat
Dan Beiser
Alton
Age: 56
Married
Children: 2
Job: State representative
Phone: (618) 301-2668
Web: --
Facebook: www.facebook.com/danbeiserforrep
Twitter: --
E-mail: beiserforrep@gmail.com
Education: Alton Marquette High School; bachelor's in mass communication, parks and recreation management, SIUE, 1978; Master's in special education, SIUE, 1986.
Previous offices: Four-term Alton treasurer, one-term Alton alderman.
Qualifications: As a lifelong resident of Alton, I understand the needs and concerns of the working families of the 111th District and I share the values of the community. I have the experience of working with local communities to identify and solve the problems we face on a daily basis. I have worked with both sides of the aisle to pass major reforms to the Medicaid, Workers' Compensation and Medical Malpractice systems to shore up the state budget, to create jobs and to fight for education funding and essential services for seniors and the disabled. I am the most qualified candidate to move our community forward.
Top issues: The main issues in this race are job creation, developing the local economy, fixing the state budget and improving our schools. I fought to pass legislation that cut through the red tape so that Global Brass would keep 900 jobs in East Alton. I voted for tax breaks for small businesses so local entrepreneurs can grow despite tough economic times. I sponsored legislation to fix the levees which gave local businesses such as Conoco Phillips the confidence to expand. In the past year, I supported legislation to cut $1 billion in wasteful spending from the state budget and passed a measure which could save the state up to $350 million by tightening the standards to qualify for Medicaid and cracking down on abuse of the system. I also voted to cut my own pay and to make it harder for lawmakers to get pay raises. As a former special education teacher, I have a working knowledge of the school system and have the passion to relentlessly pursue funding and favorable legislation for our school districts and our kids. I supported a landmark education reform bill, Senate Bill 7, which makes teacher evaluation more accurate and rewards teachers who receive high marks. I voted against this year's education budget which unfairly limits the funding for our schools and I will continue to fight Chicago politicians to bring back more resources for our school districts.
