Mike Quigley, Congressional Candidate: 2020 Election

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago faces two opponents in the Nov. 3 election — Republican Tom Hanson and the Green Party's Thomas Wilda. The 5th Congressonal District includes all or parts of Elmhurst, Hinsdale or La Grange Park. Here are the answers to a questionnaire that Patch submitted to Quigley:

Age (as of Election Day): 62

Town/City of Residence: Chicago

Office sought: U.S. House

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Barbara Quigley (wife), Alyson and Meghan Quigley (daughters)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education: Roosevelt University (B.A.); University of Chicago (M.P.P.); Loyola School of Law (J.D.)

Occupation: Member of Congress, lawyer

Campaign website: https://quigleyforcongress.com...

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Congressman for Illinois' 5th District

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe that our highest priority as a nation must be to eradicate the coronavirus pandemic as quickly and effectively as possible. This pandemic, which has put tens of millions out of work, infected more than 6 million Americans, and continues to kill nearly a thousand people a day, has exacerbated existing social problems such as income inequality, the affordable housing crisis, and the financial challenges of towns, cities, and states across America. We must institute a national testing strategy to catch and contain the virus and engage in common sense steps to stop its spread, like wearing masks. Our elected leaders must take charge and lead by example during this difficult and unprecedented challenge. Ignoring the virus while it kills hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, friends, and family is simply not acceptable. Neither is stretching the pandemic out so that it interferes with school, work, and the normal functioning of our lives. To get Chicago back to normal, we need to make decisions based on science, not politics.

As we rebuild our economy from the shock of the coronavirus shutdowns, it is imperative that we prioritize reconstructing the economy we want, not just the economy we had. That means confronting the challenge of climate change and ensuring that we build sustainably for long-term, resilient, low-carbon growth. It also means emphasizing investment in our crumbling national and local infrastructure.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Black lives matter. When the systems created to protect and defend us end up harming a segment of the population because of their race, taking to the streets in peaceful protest seems like a more than reasonable, and even fundamentally American, thing to do. This is a lesson I learned from John Lewis, who I was proud to call a friend and even prouder to join in Alabama a few years ago to commemorate his historic march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

I support the overwhelmingly peaceful protests that have taken place in sports leagues, places of business, schools, and in cities and towns across America. Thanks to the protests, the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake cannot simply be written off or glossed over as tragic events in some other city, instead, they have been the touchstones of difficult and uncomfortable conversations that otherwise would not have occurred. In a time of intense political strife, an unprecedented global pandemic, an economic disaster, and an unfolding environmental emergency, that racial justice has come to the forefront of the national discourse is a testament to the importance of this issue and the effectiveness of its messengers. I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with them as we continue to fight discrimination in all its forms.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

I do not believe we should abolish or outright defund police departments. The police serve a vital role and are indispensable to the proper functioning of our communities. They are critical in our efforts to end the gun violence that has plagued Chicago and they are essential for keeping our communities safe. However, in our country there is no reason for police to be outfitted with the weapons, vehicles, and armor of war. We ask our police to do so many different things, from protecting us in life-threatening situations to responding to mental health emergencies and assisting during natural disasters. Both citizens and the police officers we ask so much from would be better served if we also invested in social and community programs that could intervene where appropriate and work to prevent crime before it happens, rather than spend limited funding on things like tanks, which, as we’ve seen, only serve to escalate tensions.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

Everyone should wear a mask. Wearing a mask isn’t just about personal protection, it’s about respect for your neighbors and your community. Masks are the easiest, lowest cost way to slow the spread of the coronavirus and refusing to wear one is to place your temporary comfort over the lives and livelihoods of everyone around you. Wear a mask. I understand the appeal of reopening schools, and I am confident that eventually we will get back to normal. However, I am concerned that by rushing that process, we will continue to delay it. Thanks in large part to an utter failure of leadership by President Trump, the US has 22 perecent of the world’s coronavirus cases despite having just 4 percent of the population. We have no national testing strategy and the FDA and CDC are more concerned with trying to validate the President’s latest miracle cure than providing guidance to the American people. Fortunately, we’ve seen many cities and states, including Chicago, step up and get the virus under control, but until we recognize that science, not politics, must guide our response to the pandemic, we will continue to have to live with the consequences.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Illinois’ 5th District deserves a representative in Congress who will stand up against corruption, not enable it, fight to expand healthcare, not strip it from those who need it most, work to combat the dangers of climate change, not deny that they exist, and work tirelessly to ensure that our city and region have the funding necessary to maintain and improve our infrastructure and standard of living. While in Congress, I’ve helped bring billions of federal dollars back to the Chicagoland area for CTA modernization, new Metra trains, rebuilt roads and bridges, and to combat disruptive aircraft noise around O’Hare International Airport. As vice chair of the House Appropriations Transportation and Housing and Urban Development subcommittee, I am well positioned to continue to ensure that key Chicago construction projects like the Red Line Extension, the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, and McCook flood abatement reservoirs continue without delay. In addition, as Chairman of the Financial Services and General Government appropriations subcommittee, I've worked tirelessly to support community based financial institutions and ensure that our elections remain secure and free of interference, while also opposing unconscionable cuts to the Postal Service. Finally, as a Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I was a key member of the investigation into President Trump’s efforts to pressure a foreign leader to attack Vice President Biden for his own political gain and if elected, I will continue to lead the effort to keep our Intelligence Community independent and protect those that work so hard to keep us safe.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Climate change is an unprecedented threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans and billions worldwide. Unchecked, it has the potential to impact our food production, transportation, housing, immigration and our national security. Urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a resilient, low carbon economy.

In addition, it is well past time that we reckon with the legacy of systemic racism in this country. Our housing crisis, health crisis, inadequate public education system, and problems with over-incarceration all have significant roots in racist and discriminatory laws, policies, and norms. I voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which takes steps to reduce the use of excessive force by police, hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions, and demilitarize police forces. I believe that it should become law immediately, but we can’t simply ban chokeholds and think we’ve undone hundreds of years of prejudice and harm. We must be willing to continue the conversation that the protests in the streets have prompted.

I believe that common-sense gun control is absolutely necessary. We need to close the egregious loopholes that allow weapons onto Chicago’s streets and ban assault rifles and other weapons of war that have no business in our cities and towns. I believe that we need an immigration system that reflects our values and our understanding of the importance of immigrants to our economy and our society, not one that cages children and deports people back to dangerous situations with no regard for their safety. I believe that we need a tax code that ensures that everybody pays their fair share and that wealth is not concentrated in the hands of the very few at the expense of the very many. And I believe that we need to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure and guarantee that our nation’s roads, bridges, waterways, airports, and public transit systems are safe and in working order.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ve helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for election security. In a democracy, citizens must know that elections are safe and fair and that election outcomes reflect the will of the people. As Chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the Election Assistance Commission, I’ve ensured adequate funding to help states protect, fortify, and update their elections systems.

This past year, as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I was principally involved in the investigation of President Trump’s efforts to secure illegal and unethical political assistance from Ukraine, an investigation that ultimately resulted in the impeachment of the President. As part of that effort, I reviewed thousands of documents, interviewed dozens of people, and questioned witnesses in both closed and open hearings that were watched by millions. I believe that the President’s actions jeopardized our national security and the sanctity of our elections and that participating in the effort to uncover them was one of the most important things I will do as a public servant.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

It is imperative that we significantly strengthen our democratic institutions so that we never see a repeat of the wanton disregard for law and the general welfare that we have experienced the last four years. In practice, this means instituting a robust, legally independent and self-sufficient government ethics enforcement system so that a president cannot simply dismiss Inspectors General that he or she disagrees with. It means an emphasis on transparency, and the enactment of significant democratic reforms such as campaign finance reform to keep dark money out of politics, an end to partisan gerrymandering, and expanded voting rights to ensure that all Americans have a voice in government and political leaders are held to account when they act irresponsibly or illegally. So many issues are important to the American people, from climate change to health care to national security to economic recovery and reform, but we can’t make progress on any of them if our system of government is hopelessly gridlocked and vulnerable to abuse. Many of these problems predated Donald Trump, but he and his congressional enablers have ensured that this is a problem we can no longer ignore. Addressing these systemic issues will be among my highest priorities if elected to another term.

Why should voters trust you?

From my time in local government as a Cook County commissioner to my decade of experience as your representative in Congress, I have never stopped working to make the Chicagoland area the safest, most prosperous, most livable place it can be. I’ve met many of you at farmer’s markets, block parties, community meetings, and other (recently, socially distant) gatherings and getting to know the constituents that have sent me to Congress six times continues to be the most rewarding part of my job.

During my time in Congress, I have made transparency and good government the cornerstone of my agenda. I am the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Transparency Caucus and have passed bills to make public access to congressional research products and budget justifications much easier. The American people will trust their government more when they can verify that it is acting openly, honestly, and in the public interest — something that is all the more important in our current political reality. As many have said before, sunlight is the best disinfectant and the people of Illinois’ 5th district can trust that I will continue to act with that ethos at heart.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I consider myself a fiscal moderate. While it is the government’s responsibility to provide key services to its citizens and take on projects vital to the common good, like constructing bridges and roads, generally speaking, the government should strive not to spend beyond its means and run up a large debt that future generations will be saddled with paying down.

However, I do not believe that we should indiscriminately hack away at the federal government to get our spending under control. Fundamentally, things like our national parks, nutrition assistance, and public schooling are good things that should be adequately funded so that all can take advantage of them.

Ultimately, government spending should reflect our priorities as a people. As an appropriator, I take the responsibility of allocating taxpayer dollars extremely seriously and I work to ensure that our money is spent on things that we believe in and that we can be proud of — like basic science and research, assistance to the most needy and vulnerable, fair and secure elections, a functional postal system, a reasonable national defense, and environmental protection.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Swing hard in case you hit it.” - Pete Rose

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

It has been an honor to represent the people of the 5th District, and I am running for another term to build on the progress we’ve made. Government can do good things for people, and if I’m reelected I will continue to give voice to the issues our district cares about the most.