ROCK ISLAND - Jim Wozniak, 34, an assistant state’s attorney in the Felony Division of the Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office announced his bid Wednesday to be the GOP's 2014 candidate in House District 71. Wozniak will be facing Jeff McKinley of Orion, IL in next March's GOP primary.
In his news release, Wozniak focused on Illinois financial problems among several reasons for throwing his hat in the ring.
Wozniak asked, "How does Illinois avoid a similar fate as Detroit?"
"First, pension reform is obvious. Pension reform is parroted by every candidate for every position in Illinois, but few have very specific plans or are willing to personally lead on the issue. I am willing to do both," Wozniak said. "I want to implement a defined contribution retirement plan for all new employees in State and local government, similar to the 401k plans that are possessed by over 90% of the private sector as well as most employees in the Federal government. Those who remain in the pension system will need to adjust some of their expectations."
Wozniak said as state representative, he would work for a system that polices what is known as pension spiking for those who are politically connected, and he will strive to have the State fund the pension systems that it has borrowed from for so many years. "These changes are only going to be accomplished through sacrifices from all sides. The unions that represent those who hold pensions, and who have funded the current representative in District 71 Mike Smiddy quite well, will fight these changes," he said. "However, I ask those who hold a pension in Illinois whether or not they want to be similarly situated as those in Detroit, getting 17 cents on the dollar or worse, because without compromise and change that is where the Illinois pension system is headed."
Wozniak said secondly he is willing to lead by example. He will not take from the state's pension system.
"I promise here today, in my opening speech that I will refuse to accept a pension as Representative in Illinois. Yes, I am a government worker today, and yes I pay into a pension system, but I am over eight years from vesting into that pension, which means that should I win this seat I will never vest into that pension nor any other government pension while elected as a State Representative," he said.
"My primary opponent and Mike Smiddy have worked long enough in government to have their pensions be well vested. I ask you in the media and the public to ask those two if they are willing to make the same pledge," he said. "If not, then when it comes to you casting your vote in the voter's booth and you cannot decide between me or my opponent, you can at least be confident that I will be a more cost effective Representative."
