Aiming for his third term as House Representative for the 26th District, Christian Mitchell has a roll call of endorsements including Equality Illinois, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Greg Harris, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle behind him.
Taking on Gov. Rauner is a quintessential element of Mitchell's platform. It is a battle that, according to the Friends of Christian Mitchell campaign, has been waged in multiple arenas, whether on the House floor voting against Rauner 95 percent of the time and 100 percent when it comes to overriding his vetoes or organizing mass public campaigns against Rauner's refusal to pass a budget.
Once again, Mitchell faces Jay Travis after winning a close race against the activist and civic organizer in 2014. Travis has asserted that Mitchell does not "walk the walk" by, among other things, "not listening to his constituents" or speaking out "in a forthright way" against the expiration of a 2011 temporary individual and corporate income tax increase shortly before Rauner took office.
Windy City Times: Jay Travis has called the budget impasse in Springfield "indefensible" and that you are not walking the walk as a representative of the 26th District. What's your response?
Christian Mitchell: Obviously, the impasse has been terrible for folks across the spectrum. I know that we've lost some homeless services for LGBT youth, I know that, for example, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago as well as other folks providing services have been affected and it will continue to affect LGBT communities of color. Restoring some of that funding is going to make a big difference.
In every way that folks have been affected by this impasse whether that is people who need grants to go to college ( funding that we were able to restore today which I was proud to be able to vote for ) as well as social services which we also voted to restore today, I have been walking the walk on from the moment I got to Springfield. The lack of will on the Republican side of the aisle for actually solving the state budget problems because they are scared of the governor's $20-million campaign fund, which he is using to hold them in line and advocate for his frightening agenda which would slash the standard of living of working people is really the problem.
What we are doing as a caucus is to make sure we fund the services we critically need right now while also making sure that we're presenting an alternative plan—alternative sources of revenue like asking the wealthy to pay their fair share and closing loopholes. I advocated for funding infrastructure, education and services that we all care about. I think Ms. Travis is trying to distract from her own troubled record and habit of misusing public resources.
WCT: In terms of LGBT issues, what lies ahead for yourself and your colleagues to address, post-marriage equality?
CM: I was extraordinarily proud to be the first African American cosponsors on marriage equality. It was one of the pinnacle moments of my career to see that bill passed and understanding what that means in terms of civil rights for my LGBT brothers and sisters. But, as I have also noted, LGBT folks come in all shapes, all sizes, all income levels and all colors.
If you are a Black LGBT youth living in my district right now and you rely on a grant to go to college, if you are an LGBT senior who relies on in-home care so that you can stay in your home and be independent or if you are an LGBT parent who has adopted a child and you want to make sure that child has a safe place to play and be cared for while you're at work, you've been affected by this budget impasse.
I hear a lot about homeless LGBT youth as well as the need for supportive services for the community. LGBT folks are affected by all of the things that are happening in our state right now and I think all of our issues are LGBT issues. They all roll together. Seeing our LGBT brothers and sisters as part of a broader community is important, not just politically but in terms of social capital.
WCT: The 26th is extremely diverse. The remaining GOP candidates for president have come down hard on undocumented immigrants. What can be done to safeguard the undocumented people in the state should a Republican prevail in November?
CM: I know that at the Cook County level, they've been very good at standing up to ICE [Immigration Customs Enforcement] and making sure our system is not being used in a way that's going to be harmful to immigrant families. I look forward to supporting those efforts and taking action in a way that makes sure we are not breaking up families while still complying with federal law. I think immigration speaks to where the [Republican] party is going so I understand the fear. I would look forward to working with those communities on what sort of legislation can be passed to make sure we are keeping families together.
WCT: In 2014, the election was a close call. Tell the voters of the 26th why they should stick with you again this year.
CM: A choice between Jay and myself is a choice between rhetoric and results. For example, I have been a leading voice on changing education funding formulae in Springfield—something that my opponent and her political backers have opposed. I am the only candidate in this race with a plan to correct the underfunding of Chicago Public Schools.
The difference between myself and my opponent is that in every case, while she might say the right thing, I have either passed a bill to that effect that has made a measurable difference in the lives of my constituents or I have a plan to do so for which I am building concrete support. So if you are looking for someone who is not just going to talk the talk in Springfield but get it done, then I'm your guy.
For more information about Christian Mitchell, visit: new.friendsofchristianmitchell.com .
