Name: James Dusing

Party affiliation: Green Party

Candidate was not available for comments

Name: Robert W. Pritchard

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Political experience: State Representative for the 70th District, Hinckley (2003-present)

Executive Director, Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation, Macomb and DeKalb, Ill. (2003)

Self-employed family farm owner/operator, Hinckley, Ill. (1974-Present)

Director of Industry Affairs and Manager of Public & Governmental Affairs, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo. (1998-2002)

Various management positions in advertising, public relations and marketing support, DEKALB Genetics Corporation, DeKalb, Ill. (1980-1998)

DeKalb County Extension Advisor, University of Illinois, Urbana

Assistant Professor and Editor, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Radio/TV Farm and Weather Reporter, WMT Stations, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Stances:

It is always a top priority of mine to advocate for NIU as it is the largest employer and economic engine of the 70th district. One of the significant legislative achievements this session was the passage of Senate Bill 2691 that requires all campuses and universities to develop and have approved a campus readiness plan.

The Legislative Education Caucus which I helped to form created a dialogue about necessary reforms and primary goals of education. Bills I sponsored and supported created a P-20 Council to coordinate learning, provided mentoring for teachers and principals, consolidated school payments in one fiscal year and expanded early childhood education. Also bills to clarify that community colleges are units of local government and controlled locally, develop an emergency response plan for colleges and universities, and allow schools to join with other units of government in building renewable energy generators.

I supported passage of bills to provide health services for people with multiple sclerosis and autism. Though they did not become law, the level of support gives promise for implementation next year.

I continued to provide an electronic newsletter/newspaper column to constituents about state government on a weekly basis when the legislature was in session and bi-monthly when not. I sponsored forums to discuss budget priorities, manufacturing best practices, health wellness and available state services. Electric rate reform and state pay raises are two examples.

Sources:

http://www.pritchardstaterep.com/whosbob.htm

Robert Pritchard