West Central Reporter

Freezing property taxes isn't something that should be handled by lawmakers in Springfield, a Clinton County Board member who is running for state Senate said during a recent interview.

"As a County Board Member I don't want the state meddling in our business," Rafael Him told the West Central Reporter. "My county has a balanced budget and we will be debt-free in December. This process has taken many years of hard work and teamwork from all who serve my county and it started way before I was on the board."

Him said his goals, if he is elected to state government, include eliminating the 32 percent tax increase passed last summer, reducing property taxes, building a government that works for the average citizen and bringing quality jobs and wages back to Illinois. 

Clinton County Board and Illinois State Senate hopeful Rafael Him

"To do this, we need real reform," Him said. "Consolidate/eliminate any redundancy in our government top to bottom. So if you want real solutions, let's work together to reform our government and bring back quality jobs and wages."

Him, who retired from the Air Force with 22 years of service that included tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, has represented District 5 on Clinton County Board since 2014. He was previously a trustee in the village of New Baden. 

Him announced this fall that he is seeking the 54th District seat of state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon), who after nine years in the Senate said he will not seek another term. McCarter has been recommended by the Illinois congressional delegation as President Donald Trump's ambassador to Kenya.

State Senate District 54 includes all of Bond, Fayette, Clinton and Marion counties and parts of Effingham, Madison, St. Clair and Washington counties.

Him said he would spend his time in the state Senate working to eliminate Illinois's units of local government, which number about 7,000, more per capita than any other state in the U.S. 

"We need to immediately eliminate all redundant functions in our government at all levels," he said. "Why should taxpayers pay for multiple layers of government that duplicate services and allow governments to borrow and spend more? But let’s use some common sense and not just move bodies from one government entity to another. We need to find ways to modernize government, eliminate redundancies, consolidate where we can, saving the hardworking taxpayer money. My goal is to have the smallest most efficient government on the face of the planet, and release the free market back into our state creating jobs and prosperity."

Multiplicity in governments is a financial burden, Him said. 

"When our society lives under too many layers of bureaucracy it hurts our ability to be a part of the process, and it hurts our bottom line," he said. "That's why so many families and business owners have escaped Illinois, in search of better opportunities in neighboring states. We cannot continue to be responsible for a bloated irresponsible government, we have reached our breaking point and our people are suffocating in taxes."

None of that is news to Illinoisans, who endure the highest overall tax burden in the nation, Him said. 

"Voters understand that we have a very complex and convoluted government that isolates them from the decision-making process that affects their daily lives," he said.

"This is why every voter should take note of this issue and many others and know that they have the power of reform in their hands. That is why I am calling on every voter to join me in this movement to bring a new day to Illinois and create a working government for the average citizen.    

Him warned not to expect change in Illinois to come from state lawmakers. 

"If we want real change and we want to turn our state around, it will not come from Springfield or Chicago, it will come from we the people," Him said, adding that he called upon all Illinoisans "to join our grassroots movement.  

"I am calling on all Conservative activists to be active as individuals, in your towns and on social media. We need a strong ground and social engagement to enact change in 2018."