Economic opportunity is essential to building strong communities and a prosperous Illinois. People should have the freedom to start businesses, pursue careers, invest in their communities, and build better futures without unnecessary government interference.
As a Libertarian, I believe economic growth should come from innovation, competition, individual initiative, and private investment rather than government favoritism.
Government has a responsibility to establish fair rules and protect individual rights. However, it should not create unnecessary barriers that make it harder for people to succeed.
Make It Easier to Start and Grow a Business
Starting a business should not require navigating endless government regulations, expensive permits, and unnecessary delays.
Small businesses create jobs, provide services, and contribute to the character of our neighborhoods. Yet government regulations often place the greatest burden on entrepreneurs and small businesses with limited resources.
Illinois and its local governments should regularly review licensing requirements, permitting processes, zoning restrictions, and fees to determine whether they serve a legitimate public purpose.
Requirements that are outdated, unnecessarily complicated, or duplicative should be simplified or eliminated.
Government should also establish clear expectations and reasonable timelines for reviewing applications and issuing permits.
People willing to invest their time and money into starting a business should not face unnecessary obstacles created by government.
Encourage Competition, Not Government Favoritism
A healthy economy depends on fair competition and opportunities for new businesses to enter the marketplace.
Government should not use subsidies, special exemptions, selective tax incentives, or political connections to favor one business over another.
When government chooses which businesses receive special treatment, it can place competitors at a disadvantage and distort the marketplace.
Economic development should focus on creating an environment where businesses can compete fairly rather than relying on taxpayer-funded incentives to attract individual companies.
Government should apply rules consistently, maintain transparent processes, and avoid unnecessary interference in private economic decisions.
Protect the Freedom to Work
Economic opportunity is about more than business ownership. It also includes the freedom to pursue employment, develop skills, and improve one’s financial circumstances.
People should have the ability to choose their careers, negotiate compensation, change employers, and pursue opportunities that best meet their needs.
Occupational licensing requirements should be reviewed to ensure they protect legitimate public health and safety interests rather than unnecessarily restricting entry into a profession.
Workers and employers should have flexibility to establish mutually agreeable working arrangements while respecting applicable laws and individual rights.
Government should not make it unnecessarily difficult for someone to earn a living or develop new skills.
Support Neighborhood Businesses
Strong local economies depend on businesses that serve the communities around them.
Restaurants, retail stores, service providers, and other small businesses contribute to neighborhood activity, employment, and economic stability.
Local governments should make it easier for businesses to open in existing commercial corridors and appropriately located neighborhood spaces.
Zoning regulations should allow reasonable flexibility for mixed-use development, neighborhood businesses, and compatible home-based businesses.
Communities should also have safe, accessible streets and reliable infrastructure that allow customers, employees, and deliveries to reach local businesses.
Government does not need to control every aspect of neighborhood development. It should remove unnecessary obstacles and allow residents and business owners to invest in their communities.
Reduce the Cost of Doing Business
Taxes, fees, regulations, and compliance requirements all affect the cost of operating a business.
While some requirements serve legitimate purposes, government should consider their financial impact before imposing additional burdens.
Higher operating costs can make it more difficult for businesses to hire employees, expand operations, or keep prices affordable.
Illinois should work toward a predictable regulatory and tax environment that allows businesses to plan for the future.
Government should avoid constantly changing requirements or introducing new costs without evaluating their consequences.
Reducing unnecessary expenses and administrative barriers can help businesses remain competitive and encourage additional investment.
Encourage Investment and Population Growth
Illinois competes with other states for residents, workers, entrepreneurs, and private investment.
When people and businesses leave, communities can lose jobs, customers, tax revenue, and opportunities for future growth.
Rather than relying primarily on temporary incentives to attract investment, government should address the underlying reasons people and businesses choose to locate elsewhere.
Reasonable taxes, predictable regulations, available housing, reliable infrastructure, and effective public services all contribute to a stronger economic environment.
Building more housing is particularly important. Communities cannot expect to attract new workers and families if there are not enough homes available at prices people can afford.
Economic growth and population growth reinforce each other. More residents can support additional businesses, while expanding employment opportunities can attract new residents.
Illinois should become a place where people and businesses choose to stay, invest, and grow because the opportunities are here.
Hold Government Accountable for Economic Development Spending
Government frequently spends taxpayer money on economic development programs, grants, and incentives intended to create jobs or attract investment.
These programs should be evaluated to determine whether they deliver measurable public benefits.
Public officials should clearly explain the purpose, cost, and expected results of economic development spending.
When taxpayer-funded programs fail to meet their objectives, government should be willing to reform or discontinue them.
Economic development should not become an excuse for transferring public resources to politically connected businesses or funding projects without meaningful accountability.
Government should focus on removing barriers that affect the broader economy rather than attempting to select individual winners and losers.
My Position on Economic Opportunity
I believe Illinois should be a place where individuals have the freedom to work, start businesses, invest, and pursue opportunities without unnecessary government interference.
Government should maintain fair rules, protect individual rights, provide essential infrastructure, and remove regulations that unnecessarily restrict economic activity.
Whether at the municipal, county, or state level, economic policy should encourage competition, private investment, entrepreneurship, and long-term growth.
My belief is simple: Government should stop standing in the way of opportunity and allow individuals, workers, and businesses to build a stronger Illinois.