After serving as an Illinois State Senator for nearly a decade, Republican Bradley Burzynski has seen both good and bad times in Springfield.

Through it all, Burzynski has maintained what he says is a good relationship with DeKalb, Sycamore and NIU.

In recent years, he has secured more than $375,000 for the Taylor Street Bridge project and around $14 million in state funds for the Altgeld Hall project.

"I think NIU is poised right on the edge of greatness; I think President Peters is a great spokesman and has a good reputation in Springfield," Burzynski said.

The 35th District senator expressed the difficulties of being a politician and balancing work with family life. He championed having a "stable base" with sound morals and suggested that it was his upbringing in a religious atmosphere that has allowed him to remain focused and balanced.

Burzynski got into politics because he wanted to find out "what drove government," and said that his first bid for the House of Representatives was the most difficult.

As chairman of the licensed activities committee, Burzynski and his colleagues oversee the legislation and licensing of more than 670,000 professionals in Illinois.

Having as much responsibility and influence in the Senate as Burzynski creates uncertainty because of recent state elections.

"It means a real change to what we do in Springfield," Burzynski said.

With the Democrats taking control of the Illinois Senate, Burzynski said that he would probably lose some of his influence and most certainly his prominent position as licensed activities chairman as it is an appointed position by the president of the Senate.

"A lot of people thought it was time for a change simply because of what we’ve been reading," Burzynski said of the Democratic surge in recent state elections.

He explained that the Illinois budget and the fiscal situation of the state are the main concerns of the legislative branch in the next year.

"This was the worst year fiscally that I’ve seen in 12 years," Burzynski said.

He explained that the state legislator will be forced to tackle two jobs, which are creating business and generating state revenues from business. He conceded that this would be an arduous task.

"We still have some waste in the government and some programs are outdated, we also need to say ‘no’ to certain new programs," Burzynski said.

Knowing that the decisions he made would affect so many people’s lives, Burzynski found it hard to go back in session last June and work on the budget.

Burzynski said that his main goal is for people to trust him.

"People might not always agree with me, but they see that I have reasons, and they know that I will listen," Burzynski said.

Burzynski’s advice to college students was simple, yet resonating:

"Get involved, people often take our governmental system for granted, we should take that attitude of if not me, than who?"