A mere 27 votes separated state Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, from his 2024 Democratic challenger and current reelection opponent, Maria Peterson of North Barrington.
While Peterson and McLaughlin agree that making changes in the tax laws is legislation they will attempt to tackle in the 105th Illinois General Assembly, their approach to easing taxpayers’ burdens is different.
McLaughlin said he lowered the real estate tax levy seven of the eight years he served as mayor of Barrington Hills. He sees providing municipalities the 10% of state income taxes they once received instead of the current 5% as giving the towns an alternative source of revenue.
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“That money would come back to your community and your community could lower your property taxes,” he said.
Peterson made property tax relief a key issue in her campaign two years ago, and the issue has not abated. She said in 2024, 60% of Illinois voters sent a message in an advisory referendum that they wanted lower property taxes. Without it, affording necessities of life will get harder.
“If we’re going to address the affordability issue, especially for individuals who are on fixed incomes and low incomes, we need to look at how our property taxes are so high, and our income taxes are so regressive,” she said. “Make it fair so everybody pays their fair share.”
McLaughlin and Peterson shared views on taxes, artificial intelligence, reduced federal funding, and more, campaigning for the Nov. 3 election before more than 150 people Tuesday at a Barrington forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
After the moderator asked the candidates what they would do to reduce property taxes for homeowners, she queried them several questions later about their top priorities should they be chosen to serve in the 105th General Assembly. Taxes were on both their lists.
Using tax credits as a form of relief, McLaughlin said he had ideas for both younger people and seniors. He would push for a tax credit for young families to “make life more affordable for young families so they can afford a home.”
“I will push for the senior tax credit to be increased to $75,000,” McLaughlin said. “If two seniors are in a home with Social Security, it’s too low. It should be higher, at least $95,000 so seniors can get a break on their property taxes.”
Not limiting herself to advocating for property tax relief, Peterson said the state’s flat income tax needs an overhaul as well. She prefers a graduated income tax instead of a regressive one.
“We need to lower our property taxes and restructure our regressive income tax so (what) people pay is a fair tax,” Peterson said. “Until we change the system so it’s fair for everyone, everybody is going to play this shuffling game.”
Asked what to do about AI in schools, Peterson said she is concerned about the technology because unsupervised use is dangerous. She is aware children have died because of relationships created by AI.
“We have to start overseeing how to implement AI in schools (and) what guardrails to have (by) talking to the experts,” Peterson said. “We have to have the people at the table who know how best to regulate this.”
McLaughlin said giving students exposure to AI in both the arts and sciences is important. Some of them will earn a Ph.D. one day and develop genetic medications. Using AI to replace basic learning skills may not be wise.
“We have to be genuinely smart about how much AI takes over writing skills, takes over communications skills for our kids,” he said. “We need more team building. We need more socialization. We need less siloing of children.”
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Though some federal funding normally going to the states was cut, McLaughlin said Illinois must take care of its own financial issues before replacing some of the billions of dollars the U.S. government doles out.
“The state of Illinois is not operating as efficiently as it should,” he said. “Our budget is $57 billion, and when you add all the federal funding it’s almost $130 billion. Let’s get our house straightened out before we start looking at the federal government.”
Though the federal government may be removing people from access to Medicaid, Peterson said the state also has a responsibility to help take care of individuals’ basic needs like education and healthcare for children.
“It’s the state’s responsibility, especially to children, to make sure they get the medical care they need, that they get the education they need,” Peterson said. “We cannot turn our back on children.”
First elected in 2020, McLaughlin, 61, is running for this third term in Springfield. Before becoming a legislator, he was the village president of Barrington Hills from 2013 to 2021. Along with his duties as a legislator, he is an investment manager specializing in pensions.
Retired as both a lawyer and small business consultant, Peterson, 64, said her full-time job now is getting elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and, once there, making her sole occupation representing her constituents. She learned two years ago it was the best way.
Early voting is underway between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Building in Waukegan through Oct. 16, when it expands to 17 other locations throughout the county. Some are open extended hours, including weekends. A complete list with times and locations is on the Lake County Clerk’s website.
The 52nd District includes all or parts of Algonquin, Fox River Grove, South Barrington, Barrington, Barrington Hills, North Barrington, Lake Barrington, Tower Lakes, Island Lake, Wauconda, Volo, Libertyville, and Mundelein.