Democratic candidate Rich Bradley is displeased with what he views as the lack of compromise and direction in Springfield, and wants to continue serving his community as senator of the 20th District.
For the past 11 years, Bradley has served as state representative of the 40th District. But when lesbian activist Deb Mell, daughter of longtime Alderman Dick Mell, announced she would run for Bradley's seat, the legislator made the decision to run for senator. The 20th District includes areas such as Portage Park and Logan Square.
Some of the key legislation Bradley worked on in the legislature last year includes electricity bill and property tax relief. In the past, he worked to bring anti-crime programs to the neighborhoods he serves, among other issues.
Windy City Times talked to Bradley about the changes he would like to bring to Sprinfield as a senator.
Windy City Times: Let's start out by discussing some of the changes you would like to see in the 20th district. What are some of the key issues that you'd like to continue to tackle as a senator?
Richard Bradley: I think our government has been paralyzed under the leadership of the governor and, frankly, under President Emil Jones and his leadership, which is [ represented by ] my opponent [ Iris Martinez ] .
I think that with the last budget year, the governor created a paralysis of government, and cut local programs. Area schools have had their pre- and after-school programs cut. The CeaseFire program [ was cut ] ; violence protection was cut. A theme of change is what I would bring to the Senate.
In an orderly fashion we should look at these complex issues and get them negotiated and resolved on time. Then, the issues are resolved one by one, if we could agree to disagree. When we negotiate, you have to kind of accept that negotiated compromise is when the government is actually doing its work. Just to say, okay, let's go into overtime because things aren't going my way, or the way the governor and senate president want, is a touch precedent. It's hard to get your arms around the words to say that we need to change that. Given the opportunity, I will stand with a growing number of senators that will insist that we need to work in a reasonable fashion and resolve the issues that paralyze government.
WCT: You want efficiency.
RB: The leadership that's in place now really is not going along with that.
WCT: In your service so far, how do you think you've most improved the lives of the residents of your area, and how will you continue to do that?
RB: I really take a community-based approach to my job. I go to the block club meetings, the business club meetings and listen more than I speak at these meetings because I listen to their concerns and how I can support. We worked on an effort to plant tress along the Kennedy Expressway to working with block clubs to improve local parks. I had a hand in initiating new park councils … and those local entities don't rely entirely on Springfield support, but I view that as a big part of my job to work with the CAPS program in fighting crime and working on those issues by working with our neighborhood schools to work on the pre- and after-school programs I think is imperative. I work with the private schools, like the Catholic and Lutheran schools in our community, just to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I just have that grounded approach to government, and I think that my job should be as close to the people as I can. As I leader, I need to listen and know how I can help out. It's a priority for me to see that people see that all levels of government have a responsibility to improving the quality of life. I view the work I do in the community as important as anything I work on in Springfield.
WCT: The 20th District is very diverse. What have you done to serve the diversity within the 40th District as a rep, and how to you intend to continue to do that?
RB: I think it's my approach to working with people. I view everybody as having a commonality of issues in the community that need to be addressed. I think you just approach things. If people are willing to engage and work together, there is no issue that we can't solve to help work towards progress and move the community forward. My approach is block by block, or small community area by small community area. You see improvements and people take note of that and realize, let's get active, let's get involved with the local representative, alderman and senator to see what they can bring to the table to continue the goals that we all share.
WCT: The 20th District is largely Hispanic, and the Hispanic community has been disproportionately impacted by the HIV crisis. What are your thoughts on ways to tackle the crisis within Illinois?
RB: We really need to look at education as the key component, and to start at an early age. We can just educate the young adults on how to conduct themselves in a safe manner. I think that probably there isn't a huge cost to that, and it's frustrating that we don't invest more, because it isn't a huge amount of funding, but we could see results.
I think local groups need to do everything that they can in getting out the word, message and latest statistics, whether those are good or bad. Whatever they may be, we need everybody who has a stake [ to get involved ] and we need education. We need our young adults to hear it from different avenues, so they are hearing it from a wide variety of voices that these are the facts, these are the results, and you know what, these are real choices you can make on how to conduct yourself, and why not do it the right way so it helps your own individual health and society's health? It's a big key. Again, what is frustrating is that we need to continue funding these programs. Even some of these programs were cut in the governor's budget. Again, it's just frustrating. You don't have a word for it. He's [ Gov. Rod Blagojevich ] trying to do everything he can for health care and I am, too! I admire his tenacity on it, but I don't think anybody agrees the means to an end that he has chosen.
WCT: So, you think his ideas are okay, but his approach is really turning people off?
R B: You can say approach, his strategy, his lack of strategy or his means to an end. Any legislator you talk to is frustrated. We support healthcare. I support healthcare expansion, but you know what? It's a complex issue that has many facets. Let's take it in small steps. Let's have incremental goals to get to X. But he and Senate President Jones have said, "No, let's paralyze the world until we get what we want." What strategy is that? We just need to take modest steps, and I think we could. But this year has been stalemate, and he has taken an antagonistic way to getting his plan through.
WCT: Have you had any experience yet working with or on behalf of the LGBT community, and where do you stand on some issues?
RB: I'm for civil unions. I'm for that, I would be in favor of that and I would vote for that. My voting record of the past has been supportive and I will continue to do that. It's been a learning curve for society. I think sometimes controversial issues have a personal, social and religious makeup, and there's a lot in it. But I've seen that society, even legislators, over time, can change their mind or embrace it more. Or maybe they don't fear that anymore.
WCT: Or at least they might be more open to discussing it?
RB: Yes. It's a continuum, whether its education or personal experiences with groups on how they explain things and how you see things. For legislation, maybe it's just a gaining of understanding and empathy. There're a whole lot of emotions that go into the issues that you're addressing, but I think over a period of time, I think you've gained significant progress.
WCT: A while back, Deb Mell announced her run for the 40th District seat, which you have held since 1997. Was it completely your decision to step aside and let her do her thing? Was running for Senate something that you had thought about before?
RB: It was under consideration. I was kind of faced with three choices: run for re-election as a representative, run for Senate or retire. They were complex, but those are the three decisions that me and my family faced. As you may realize, a district is made up of wards of alderman and committeemen who work that area. I evaluated my chances, and understood that Alderman Dick Mell is very popular in his area, and has done some great things in his community. For him to have the goal to get his daughter elected made all the sense to me. I accepted that. I accepted that she's worked on issues in your community, and has been very active. I didn't look at it as an end of the line. I could have. I could have retired. I firmly believe in working with Alderman Mell and Deb Mell. I think I'll continue to provide excellent service and do some good work for the community as senator.
WCT: It sounds like you're excited about continuing what you're doing and stopping what is going on in Springfield.
RB: True. Frankly, if the state wasn't so paralyzed with what has happened this year, I don't know if I would have made that run. I'm not so sure if there would be enough for me to take on that challenge. But I've gotten a whole lot of support from both the political leaders in the community and from groups in the community that I've worked with, who are really frustrated with the direction Springfield is going in, and they want a change. So my thing is really that it's time for change. Let's end the stalemate, Let's end the paralysis and let's go about our business in a reasonable fashion. I think the public is really looking for that.
See www.bradleyforsenate.org .
