Eric Ferguson, Libertarian candidate for State Representative, Illinois District 85. (2002) This page is designed to answer any questions you may have and to address campaign issues.

Why I'm Running for office:
I got interested in politics at the High school age. As a volunteer with Lockport Community Television, I learned about the government processes at the city level. LCTV would cablecast the city council meetings and other functions. One day, the LCTV group found a loop hole in the local franchise agreement that would bring more money into the city. We proposed this to the city along with our budget and how we would use the money. Running a TV station is expensive, even a local cable channel. The city accepted the funds, thanked us for the hard work, and gave the money to somebody else. I had a very low opinion of politics after that. Even though I was eligible to vote, I didn't for the longest time.
I've always been a libertarian, even before I knew what it meant or that there was a word for it. Then one day, watching TV, I heard a man named Andre Marrou speak, and I realized that I had been a fool. There was a place for me in politics. It is the Libertarian Party.
I still didn't have many candidates I'd be willing to vote for, at any level. And obviously many others think the same way judging by the low voter turnouts. So I decided to run for office. If you want something done right, do it yourself.
If I hadn't made that decision, there would not have been an election this fall. The incumbent would automatically win.

Issue Number One:
Taxes Taxes Taxes. Taxes are simply too high. There is no greater challenge facing Illinois than balancing our budget and there is no greater challenge facing the taxpayers than having their taxes raised to make the budget. Will Rogers said "It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for". That's very true, but to me that says we are paying too much. And now Illinois is facing a projected 100 million dollar debt. And our legislators are telling us that if they don't raise one tax or another they will be forced to make cuts to balance the budget. Great, make cuts. But then they threaten us with cutting funds for learning disability children, law enforcement, education, medical care, and so on. I take threats personally and I don't like them. What our legislators won't tell you is that their "pet projects", or member initiatives as they call them, amount to $115 million. Why won't they threaten us with having to cut their pet projects? Why won't they threaten us with cutting their expense accounts? Or perhaps a pay cut? In my household, if I overspend and put myself in debt I will have to tighten my belt. I will have to make the effort to get out of that debt. I cannot vote myself more income. It seems to me that those whom "broke" the budget should be the ones to "fix" it. We could eliminate the pet projects, balance the budget, and have money left over.
And there are numerous other areas that spending can be reduced. Illinois spends millions on transportation alone. I don't mean the roads, I mean getting government officials and employees from one place to another. Why on earth does the Department of Revenue need tens of millions of dollars in transportation?
I want a responsible, efficient, and accountable state government.

Ultimately I want to eliminate our state personal income tax. 28 states in recent years have lowered their income tax, and some operate without one. Why should Illinois be so different? Florida for example doesn't have an income tax. Florida has big cities, homeless, roads, crime, police, schools, farmland, sports teams, and so on, just as Illinois does. Florida hasn't fallen off into the ocean. Yes every state of the union has different needs. Yet it is entirely feasible for Illinois to eliminate it's income taxes.

Other Issues:
Gun Control - Gun control is putting the second bullet through the hole made by the first. I will always uphold a person's right to defend themselves. I don't want what has happened to Chicago to happen in my district and the rest of the state. Following Chicago's outlawing of firearms they quickly shot to the top of the list as the murder captial of America.

Education - I want to offer people school choice. You should not be forced to pay for a school you are not using. Ultimately I'd like to move away from government controlled and tax payer funded schooling and move education into the private sector. Why should a person who chooses to home school pay for the government school? "But what about the teachers?" I am often asked. The number of students and demand for teachers doesn't change simply by moving from government schools into the private sector.

Infrastructure - Illinois has a history of having bridges in terrible condition, letting them stand for as much as twice their intended life. While programs such as Illinois First, pay to repair perfectly good roads, as other roads are almost impassable. When you buy a product at a store, it normally comes with some form of warranty, if it fails it can be replaced. If you have contractor work done, and there is a fault with the workmanship, they will have to repair or redo the job. I want a warranty on infrastructure work in Illinois. If a section of new pavement falls apart in a year or two I want the construction company held responsible. Roadwork for example is terribly expensive and over priced. I expect new road work to last for years, not just through the first winter. Some of you might remember a section of I-55, paved with an "experimental surface". How did that section of road, paved so many years ago last so long? You would think there is even better technology today.

Who I am:
I was born in Joliet in 1969. Graduated from Lockport High School. I attended Joliet Junior College studying electronics engineering. I've lived in Lockport for most of my life. I'm married and have an 8 year old daughter attending a government schoo, and a 1-1/2 year old daughterl.
My work background is in broadcasting. I've worked as a radio on-air personality and I'm currently in television as a station engineer, working with transmitters and video equipment. I'm a non-denominational Christian and have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. I'm a Libertarian.

Libertarianism:
For those who don't know, libertarianism has nothing to do with liberalism, socialism, anarchism, and can be compared to conservatism although there are some major differences.
Libertarianism is a belief in a very simple principle, personal freedom and personal responsibility. That means I, and you, are FREE to do ANYTHING we want to, as long as we doesn't trespass on another's right to do the same, or their person or property, or endanger others. And if you or I were to trespass against another we will be held responsible for those actions.
You may find that most people understand and agree with that basic principle. But unlike most people, a true libertarian holds government to that principle. How dare the government tell me what I can and cannot own, where I can and cannot go, what I can and cannot say, what I can and cannot do, what I can and cannot put in my body, who I can and cannot be with, where I can and cannot educate my child, and so on down the list of regulations the government has place upon us.

I can only hope that the voters feel the same way.

I am often asked how I stand on abortion. Most of the time those questions are coming from "one issue" voters. I would love to just ignore them. Casting votes based on one issue very dangerous for the well being of the entire nation. A person supporting banning abortion for example could be willing to vote for a complete crook as long as that one issue was promissed.
That having been said, for those that take everything into consideration I'll address the issue. I would support a law banning abortion only, and only if, medical science could prove at what point life begins. And incidentally medical science has gotten close to making that very determination. The law would be for making a definition of abortion as murder. However, as long as there is a debate in our society, I could not support such a law. There are millions people in America that do not believe that life begins at conception.
Speeding, spitting on the ground, double parking, cursing in public, murder, underage drinking, rape, theft, vandalism, jay walking, smoking dope, shoplifting, and many more, are all things that are illegal, yet they happen every day. A law against abortion WOULD NOT make it go away. It would instead open a black market for things like the abortion pill and "doctors" that make house calls. We would have baby's being left in the trash and abandoned and left to die. The only sensible way to battle abortion is by fighting the causes. Such as promoting abstinence, giving young mothers or others the ability to raise that child by allowing people to keep more of their hard earned money. There was a time when an unwed girl would have her child, and a parent, relative, or friend would care for the child while the girl finished school or went to work. Today that girl already has a job, as does BOTH of her parents, and grandparents, and friends and neighbors, and if they aren't its because they can't find work. A person working 2 jobs just to make ends meet cannot simply quit working to stay home with a young girl's baby. And restrictive adoption laws must be changed making it easier for a willing person to adopt. Only society and greater opportunity can help, government cannot.

I can only hope that voters agree with me on these things and support me in the coming election.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Eric Ferguson