Joe Hackler, Republican candidate for state representative, 112th District in Illinois
READ MORE
More on the 112th House District Republican primary
Read all the questionnaire responses from candidates in the 112th House District Republican primary. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
Expand All
Name: Joe Hackler
Political party: Republican
Age as of June 28, 2022: 30
Campaign website or social media page: JoeHackler.com
Office seeking: State Representative - House District 112
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) Yes - Arcola Township Trustee (served 2 years, 2013-2015)
Occupation: Communications director
Education: BS - University of Illinois
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Current: Member - Granite City Planning Commission; Board Member - One Shawnee; High School Youth Director - Unity Baptist Church
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Citizens for Durkin, Friends of Avery Bourne, Rick & Carol Hackler
Why are you running? I am running because Illinois is in crisis, and I feel compelled to do everything I can to save our home from continuing down this destructive path. Illinois is being driven into the ditch by Democratic career politicians, Springfield insiders, and a radical, out-of-touch governor who shut our state down for two years. We have crushing high taxes, massive overspending, attacks on our law enforcement, and a state government defined by corruption. As a result, our friends, family and neighbors are fleeing.
As a young father and husband, I am choosing to stand up and fight - for my family, for my community, and for taxpayers who simply want a prosperous state once again.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? The top issue is the affordability of living in Illinois - high taxes and high cost of living. The result of Illinois having the highest overall tax burden in the nation has been hundreds of thousands of taxpayers leaving the state in search of better opportunities and a lower cost of living. Illinois joined just two other states - West Virginia and Mississippi - in actually losing net population over the last decade.
Democrats in Springfield don’t care about this issue. They continually raise taxes to pay for their massive overspending at the same time record inflation is causing financial hardships for many families. To reverse the trend, we must cut wasteful spending, require balanced budgets and transparency, and stop government from growing larger and larger.
Why should people vote for you? I believe voters fundamentally want someone who will fight for the interests of working families instead of political insiders and special interests. I’m the only one in this race who has spent their career battling the political machine in Springfield, standing on the side of taxpayers against entrenched career politicians and corrupt leaders like former Speaker Michael Madigan.
In the Republican primary for the 112th District, I am the proven fighter and trusted conservative who will defeat Katie Stuart and provide a common-sense voice for metro-east families.
This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 6:00 AM.