Independence in Springfield at core of campaigns

¶ Candidates spar over curbing gang violence, "politics of personality"

After clearing a tough field of primary challengers, Democrat Will Burns faces the Republican Sylvester "Junebug" Hendricks in the General Election for state representative of the 26th District.

Hendricks' campaign goes beyond underdog status and approaches elusive. On his petition to appear on the November ballot as the Republican candidate, Hendricks listed himself as "homeless." That filing appears to be one of the only official traces of the candidate. The Illinois State Board of Elections confirmed that Hendricks has not filed any campaign finance disclosures. He would not be required to file if he raised less than $3,000 in a 12-month time frame, said Andy Nauman of the board of elections.

When reached by phone, Hendricks said his fundraising support had been nil.

"I haven't received endorsements or support from either party," he said. The Illinois House Republican Organization confirmed that it had neither met nor spoken with Hendricks, according to Kevin Artl, political director.

It is just this "independence" from politics-as-usual that Hendricks said he is making the centerpiece of his campaign. Hendricks' long-bet campaign is advocating against stacked odds. The candidate said that though he is running as a Republican, he does not align himself closely to the GOP's core values. Instead he is utilizing the party to push his view that Chicago needs two-party representation in Springfield.

"We don't need more of the same old thing, more of the same old party," he said in a phone interview.

The other leg of Hendricks' platform is a novel approach to curtailing gang violence: dueling.

"Before we had a dueling concept where two people would walk off ten paces, turn and fire," Hendricks said. He did not dispute characterizing the practice as gladiatorial.

The candidate said he envisioned a third party being involved to facilitate gang members who wanted to participate and that it could eventually become a spectator event. Asked to respond to Hendricks' proposal, Burns was skeptical.

"Gang violence is a serious issue facing our community," he said. Burns declined to comment further on the specifics but said he could not support the idea. "We need common sense approaches," he said.

"We need to change the cultural norms that celebrate gun play, that celebrate violence," he said. Burns said he advocated universal background checks on all gun purchases and a ban on large capacity ammunition clips similar to those used in the recent violence at Northern Illinois University.

"We need to be getting these kids in early childhood education," Burns said, emphasizing his view that gang violence is inexorably linked to education and unemployment.

"I'm not for violence," Hendricks said. "No one has devised a better way to eliminate collateral damage. If someone comes up with an alternative method, I'll listen," he said. Burns also decries the "politics of personality" in Springfield that prompted Hendricks' campaign. He outlined legislation that he would work to get through Springfield.

Burns described how a decline in state revenue and increased demand for state services would soon force some difficult decisions in Springfield.

"We need to rethink the state fiscal system," Burns said, pointing specifically to how tax dollars are used to fund public education.

Because a graduated income tax is banned by the Illinois Constitution, Burns is proposing a "graduated exemption income tax" that would increase the returns of tax money to the poor and working class.

"We don"t want to penalize the poor and working class by increasing the tax burden on them," he said.

Burns encouraged voters to stay involved in the political process because they would have a lot of important decisions to make on the ballot after the presidential race.

"There will be a lot of pieces moving in the next two years," he said, pointing to Senate President Emil Jones' retirement and the upcoming gubernatorial election.

"Change will start from the bottom up, not the top down," Hendricks said. "People will have a good chance to voice their independence."