Chang for Change Blog

Click here to view previous Question of the Day posts!

 

Daniel Biss says, “For the last 14 years, Beth Coulson has represented the independent voters of our area well.”  

He’s right - And Beth Coulson has endorsed Hamilton Chang for

State Representative

 A Special Message from

Lilly Chang

 

CRUISIN' FOR CHANGE 
Keep your eyes peeled for the CHANG CRUISER
We're driving all across the district to spread the word and bring accountability to Springfield!

Click Here for More Pictures

                                                                                                                                                    

 
10/6/10

"Tuesday is a key day for voters."

- Chicago Tribune

Make sure your voice gets heard Tuesday, November 2nd!

Voter's Information Guide

 

EARLY VOTING OCTOBER 12-OCTOBER 28 REGISTRATION LOCATIONS LAST DAY TO REGISTER: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 Evanston Civic Center 2100 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM   Skokie Village Hall 5127 Oakton St. Skokie, IL 60077 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM Glenview Village Hall 1225 WaukeganRd. Glenview, IL 60025 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM Skokie Court House 5600 W. Old Orchard Rd. Skokie, IL 60077 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM SUN.: 9AM-3PM *Open on Columbus Day   Morton Grove Village Hall 6101 Capulina Ave. Morton Grove, IL 60053 MON.-SAT.:9AM-5PM Centennial Park 2300 Old Glenview Rd. Wilmette, IL 60091 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM Northbrook Village Hall 1225 Cedar Lane Northbrook, IL 60053 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM County Clerk’s Main Office 69 West Washington Chicago, IL 60602 MON.-SAT.: 9AM-5PM SUN.:9AM-3PM *Open on Columbus Day Evanston City Hall Clerk's Office Clerk’s Office 2100 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 MON.-FRI.: 8:30AM-5PM   Northfield Village Hall 361 Happ Road Northfield, IL 60093 MON.-FRI.: 8AM-4:30PM   Glenview Village Hall Finance Department 1225 Waukegan Road Glenview, IL 60025 MON.-FRI.: 8AM – 5PM   Skokie Village Hall Clerk's Office 5127 Oakton Street Skokie, IL 60077 MON.-FRI.: 8:30AM-5PM   Morton Grove Village Hall 6101 Capulina Ave. Morton Grove, IL 60053 MON. & THURS. 8:30AM-6PM TUES.,WED.,FRI. 8:30AM-5PM   Wilmette Village Hall 1200 Wilmette Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091 MON.,TUES.,THURS.,FRI. 8:30AM-4PM WED.: 8:30AM-2PM   Northbrook Village Hall 1225 Cedar Lane Northbrook, IL 60053 MON.-FRI.: 8:30AM-4:30PM   Winnetka Village Hall Clerk's Office 510 Green Bay Road Winnetka, IL 60094 MON.-FRI.: 8:30AM-12PM, and 1PM-5PM SAT.: 8:30AM- 12PM at the cashier’s window

 

 
                                                                                                                                                     

 

10/4/10

Top 10 Reasons Why I’m Asking for Your Vote on November 2nd

Fixing Illinois’ budget is job number one. In order to fix our state, riddled with corruption, pay-to-play politics, and fraud, we need to change the process in which laws are made. Campaign finance reform, cutting expenses, rooting out waste, eliminating corrupt practices and reducing bureaucracies will improve the economic environment, producing more jobs and tax dollars. In addition an independent, non-partisan review committee to provide oversight to the re-districting process is critical so we are represented fairly and accurately in the legislature.

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Getting jobs to start, stay and grow in Illinois. As the only candidate in this district with experience in business, I believe that we need to pass legislation that will make Illinois a destination for new business. Reforming the permitting process and offering new businesses a tax credit are both incentives that I support to turn things around for Illinois.

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A vote for me is a vote against Michael Madigan. As State Representative, I will loosen the stronghold that Madigan has on Illinois. Under Madigan’s 27 year reign our State has plummeted to $13 billion deficit and $61 billion in underfunded pensions.

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My qualifications. I am a small business owner as an independent business consultant. My work is dedicated to assisting not-for-profits understand the complicated financial structures being sold by large banks. I provide education and transparency for not-for-profit board members and management, focusing on reorganizing senior living centers, hospitals and schools. I’ll use my experience with transparent financial solutions to shine a bright light on Illinois’ budget and develop new innovative solutions.

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Medicaid is bankrupting our state. Medicaid fraud is devouring our state budget and a forensic audit of the program will save tax-payers billions. Career politicians in Springfield who don’t want further scrutiny of the program only more funding for it. I, on the other hand, support an audit to expose inefficiencies and ensure we have enough funding for those who need it most. In addition, without competition or market force to drive them, insurance companies rule our state with an iron fist. I advocate legislation imposing market prices and transparency that will drive down health care costs.

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I do not support any new taxes or tax increases. Many career, entrenched, recycled politicians and candidates want to send more of our tax dollars to Springfield, feeding the addiction of bad spending. Along with combating fraud, inefficiencies, and waste, I will fight to keep our tax dollars local. We know what’s best for our communities, not Springfield.

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Continuing a tradition of good representation. Rep. Beth Coulson, retiring after 14 years of loyal service to this district has stood as a fiercely independent voice for our community. "If given the opportunity, I am confident that Hamilton will continue the fight to eradicate wasteful government spending, promote and create Illinois jobs and careers, improve education for our children and carry on the tradition of honest and responsive representation for our district. For these reasons, I have endorsed Hamilton Chang for State Representative of the 17th District."- Rep. Coulson

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School choice. I support school choice so parents can have a say in what kind of education they want for their children. State funding for schools needs to be addressed at the state level, beginning with cleaning up Illinois’ budget, not by cutting off options for local families and school districts.

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Active in our community. My wife, Lilly, and I are the proud parents of four young sons. I am a coach for the Wilmette Park District, an active member of the YMCA Guides and Cub Scouts programs. I serve on the board of Wilmette Youth Connections (a local charity that supports after school programs) and am a member of the Kenilworth Union Church. My kids go to school here, I pay taxes here, I work here, and like most members of our community I’m fed up with the direction of our State.

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Bringing diversity, history and progress to our state. I stand to be the first Asian American in the Illinois Legislature, which represents not only a big step for the Asian community but also for our State. Diversifying our state government will bring new voices and ideas to the table.

                                                                                                                                                     

9/13/10 

"The Alliance PAC feels that Hamilton is the candidate in this race who will work the hardest for better schools." -Ron Conner, Chairman 

 

 I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Alliance PAC, a representative of the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance (see endorsement here). Education is our highest priority among state services yet we are unable to manage it properly as our budget defecit dips below $13 billion.  The urgency of cleaning up our financial mess becomes ever more real as we see the fallout from this fiscal crisis affecting our local school boards.  To ensure priority services like education are properly funded we need to change the process in which legislation is passed in Springfield.  

 Currently, proposed legislation must pass through the House Rules Committee to which members are appointed (not elected) by the Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan.  If a bill makes it past The House Rules Committee it is then sent to an additional committee, such as the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, also controlled by Speaker Madigan.  These committees have the power to permit or deny any and all legislation that they review - a requirement for the passage of bills.

In order to create any meaningful policies in our state, whether it be education or healthcare reform, we need to first change the process in which this happens; effective, representative and responsible legislation can only be the product of a BIPARTISAN legislative process. This November will be a tipping point for Illinois, let's not vote for more of the same....please join me in a vote for change.

 

Sincerely,

Hamilton

 

                                                                                                                                                    

 9/11/10

 

Reflecting on 9/11

 

I want to extend my appreciation to the many people in our community and within this campaign who helped organize gatherings remembering the American lives lost on this horrible day. I want to urge that in your September 11 reflections, you will remember the love and strength that carried us through and also brings us together today.

 

Many friends of mine and my family were affected by this tragedy and, like you, is a day that I will never forget. I want to put aside bickering politics and partisanship, and remember the day that our nation came together as Americans.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with the families that lost loved ones on 9/11.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hamilton

 

  

                                                                                                                                                    

 9/6/10

 

 

Wishing you and your family a safe and restful Labor Day!

Let’s Celebrate This Labor Day by Prioritizing Employment in Illinois 

Labor Day is a day to appreciate the value, hard work and dedication of the millions of workers in our state. Illinois’ labor force is recognized as being extremely talented, productive and highly skilled. Yet, it seems that there is little to celebrate when too many dedicated and able workers are unable to find employment in our state.

 

As your State Representative, I pledge to you to make job creation a priority by:

 

1. Tackling the bureaucratic permitting process for existing and new Illinois business
2. Reforming policies around workers’ compensation costs
3. Opposing the proposed corporate tax increase
4. Addressing the rising unemployment tax
5. Opposing any cap and trade legislation
6. Fighting the bureaucracy and corruption that combine to cultivate hesitation and uncertainty for expanding and prospective businesses in Illinois.
7. Going through the Illinois budget line by line to eliminate the waste and fraud so money can be better appropriated toward essential human services and education

                                                                                                                                                    

 8/27/10

 

Hamilton Chang

Residents of the 17th District:

I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for Illinois State Representative.

The participation of "regular" people- neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters- in governing has been the cornerstone of our democracy for many years. And, as a democracy, we get the government we "deserve" (elect).

In economic times like these, it is even more critical for passionate business leaders, PTO members, and soccer moms to get involved in the shaping of public policy. People in the community MUST step-up to lead our state toward a brighter future filled with more opportunities for all Illinois families.

I am raising my hand to participate and I am committed to reversing the fiscal irresponsibility of this state’s government, to stopping its corruption, and to crafting fiscal policies that can make Illinois a place for families and businesses to prosper.

Please take a few moments to review this site. I hope it conveys who I am and some simple principles I strive for, like fiscal responsibility and transparency. See if you agree with some of what I say and decide whether or not you might join me in helping to make a difference for Illinois families.

Are you frustrated with the direction of our beloved state? Do you think there are better solutions than simply raising taxes on hard-working families and friends? Do you believe that government can be better and more efficient in providing for the needs of its citizens?

I chose today, as the time for me to try to make a change. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now is the time to get involved. Together we can seize this opportunity to improve things for our communities, our neighbors, ourselves.

Will you join me?

Very sincerely,

Hamilton Chang

Candidate for Illinois State Representative , 17th District