The following is the response to a Northern Star questionnaire sent to all local candidates for the 2020 election. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and consistency.

Name: 

Jeff Keicher 

Occupation: 

Insurance Agent 

Education: 

NIU Class of 1996 Political Science 

Position running for:

State Representative 70th District  

Related experience: 

I have been in the position for two years and have had great success gaining advantages for NIU and my fellow Huskies.

Why are you running: 

I was raised by a single mother who waited tables to keep a roof over our heads. I paid my own way through NIU (took me 5 years) by bartending, becoming the first in my family to graduate college. Illinois needs someone who believes in an amazing future for all of us.  A state where education leads to great jobs and keeps people living here instead of moving out of state. In my first term, I have helped to secure legislation that has led to DeKalb gaining $800 million Facebook data center, Ferrara Candy locating near 700 jobs in a brand new distribution and manufacturing facility, $52 million for NIU deferred maintenance and funds to help construct a building at NIU that would allow health services to locate under one roof. NIU has been transformational for my family. I want other families like mine to benefit from the NIU experience.  Equal opportunity for everyone to succeed is the cornerstone of our future.

Goals you want to accomplish if elected:

We can offer better services like healthcare, mental health service and support for our most vulnerable once again and fund them appropriately if we end the games we see in Springfield. I am to continue the work to stop the expansion of the Mike Madigan Chicago machine that has led Illinois to a place where millions of dollars cause corruption. Lawmakers in jail are too common and through an overhaul of ethics legislation and campaign finance reform, we can once again serve those that sent us. I will continue to invest in education, infrastructure and reducing mandates and seek to help craft a future energy platform in Illinois that will recognize the climate crisis is at hand.

Why students/residents should vote for you:

My results at providing an opportunity to NIU and NIU students are without question. I’m a Huskie that has accomplished amazing things because of NIU. We need to share this transformational education opportunity with other families. I have worked with many dozens of NIU students, been a mentor and spoken to classes. I give back to my NIU community and at the end of the day, that work is never done. Join me in bringing a bright future to more families.

The Northern Star is publishing the candidates’ responses to our questions as they are given to us. The Northern Star is not endorsing local candidates.