Arthur Noah Siegel, an Independent candidate for the 14th District, claims a long list of professions on his resume, including work as a touring musician, auto mechanic, truck driver and carpenter. In 2010, Siegel moved from San Francisco to his birthplace of Chicago where he set up a handyman and construction business.

Claiming to be inspired by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sander's run during the Democrat primaries and an allegiance neither to Democrats nor Republicans but "the people of the 14th District," Siegel aims to unseat popular sate Rep. Kelly Cassidy ( D ) at a point in history that he calls "a crisis" for the people of the 14th and the state of Illinois.

Siegel talked with Windy City Times about his plans should he prevail Nov. 8.

Windy City Times: What, in particular, was it about Sanders' campaign that spurred your decision to make a run for the 14th?

Arthur Noah Siegel: I went to some of his rallies and then I started volunteering for his campaign. What he represents for the country is the people and the anti-corporation movement. He really put his heart and soul into his campaign and his political career. That's why I'm going into this race as a middle class worker and a non-politician.

WCT: The media and pundits claim that there is a lot at stake at the top of the ticket. What do you think that is in terms of both presidential and down ballot races?

ANS: If we get someone like Trump who has a short temper and who doesn't know what they're doing, that cannot be good for growing our country. Other countries will ask themselves why the American people elected a president who is mentally unstable.

The state is in crisis right now in terms of the budget. We've got tent cities emerging under Lake Shore Drive, CPS [Chicago Public Schools] don't have enough books for their students and we're opening up Charter schools to replace public schools. A lot of people from Illinois are leaving the state because of bad contracts, a lack of communication and a lack of compromise. Not being affiliated with any party, I can really make the hard choices for the people of Illinois because we've got to get on track with the state budget and rebuild our foundation financially.

WCT: Where do you lay the blame for the budget impasse?

ANS: When you're in office, you've really got to consider the people of Illinois and I feel that the politicians are not compromising or working together. Republicans and Democrats have been struggling for a long time against each other and they're playing politics right now. State representatives and senators who have been in office for a long time are out of touch and have interests to make money off of the state. Bringing new people in with fresh ideas would be really good for the state.

WCT: Do you think people in Illinois are motivated to replace the status quo?

ANS: There are some Republicans running who are little more on the independent side. But a lot of the people who have been in office for a long time are unopposed. Electing an independent would be a big step because there hasn't been an independent for over 80 years. So, just having independents means free thinkers who have fresh ideas to really get out of this hole. One step at a time.

WCT: You're running against a popular candidate who has taken the lead on many issues facing the LGBTQ community. What is your position on them?

ANS: I have a lot of the same ideas as Kelly Cassidy. I agree with her on a lot of issues but we have to get the budget straightened out before we move on to any other issues. She's done a lot of great things but I'm willing to go the extra mile for the citizens of Illinois because I was born in the district at Edgewater Hospital and I love the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. I'm willing to work really, really hard to get the state back on track.

WCT: So, as far as continuing the fight for LGBT equality—particularly transgender civil rights—do you believe none of that can be accomplished until the budget is settled?

ANS: No. People are involved in that and I'm all for it. I go to Gay Pride and I think people have the right to do what they want to do and leave government out of it. I think we should still move forward but my main focus is the state budget because that [affects] everyone in Illinois and not just [one] community.

WCT: In terms of that budget, it is a conflict between the ideologies of House Speaker Madigan and Gov. Bruce Rauner. How do you begin to resolve that conflict?

ANS: People are blaming it on Rauner because he's a Republican but that's part of the politicking that's going on right now. But we've got to dig deep and look at all the bad contracts we have in Illinois. We're spending a lot of extra money on them and people aren't compromising. We've got to work together. People are just pointing fingers and they're not taking responsibility for why they got elected into office. The pension issue is part of the problem but it's a combination of multiple angles on why we're in the hole and why we we're going into debt every year. I think voters don't know what's going on because there's a lot of inside information that isn't released to the press.

WCT: As an independent, do you intend to let voters in on that information?

ANS: I've been a grass roots opponent and I want to keep that going if I get elected. I will have open communication. I will hit the streets and still keep in touch with the general public because ideas are worth a million dollars. If you have town hall meetings and talk to people, they may have ideas you didn't think about.

For more information about the Arthur Noah Siegel campaign, visit: arthursiegel.com.