An Open Letter to the Chicago Tribune about Their Comptroller Endorsement

Posted on November 17, 2018 by jpragit

Dear Chicago Tribune,

Claire Ball, Libertarian candidate for Comptroller, poses with Libertarian candidate for Governor Kash Jackson.

This is in response to your article, “Eight days after winning comptroller election, Susana Mendoza announces run for Chicago mayor“. Susana Mendoza’s intent to be the mayor of Chicago, not Illinois Comptroller, should come as no surprise to anyone as many political experts had anticipated such a move.

However, the Chicago Tribune chose to endorse Mendoza over Libertarian Claire Ball. As you already know, Claire Ball is “a studious accountant” who is more than qualified for the position. Not only is Ball a professional accountant with a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance, she holds the most important qualification of all: if elected, she would serve.

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Posted in Claire Ball, Elections, Kash Jackson | 1 Comment

Vote Claire Ball for Illinois Comptroller

Posted on November 4, 2018 by jpragit

(originally published by the Daily Chronicle)

Claire Ball is the only candidate running for Comptroller who is a CPA.

Illinois has recently celebrated its bicentennial. In the 200 years of the state’s history, we have never had an accountant in the position of comptroller. The position has been used as a political stepping stool for both major political parties. For the second election cycle in a row the Libertarian Party candidate has been the only qualified candidate for the office.

Claire Ball is a CPA with over a decade’s experience in the private sector. As a third party she is independent of party bosses. We the people are her boss, and if either old party bureaucrats try and play around with your tax dollars she will have no problem calling them out on it. Continue reading →

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Posted in Claire Ball, Taxes | Leave a comment

November 6, 2018, General Election – Propositions

Posted on November 4, 2018 by jpragit

DU PAGE COUNTY

1 Shall DuPage County oppose the General Assembly instituting a property tax increase equivalent to 1% of your home’s value to help retire state debt?

VOTE Yes! – DuPage County has internally a balanced budget, we should not be punished for the states reckless spending and waste. It only encourages bad behavior.

2 Shall DuPage County oppose the creation of a statewide Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT) which would tax DuPage County citizens based upon the number of miles driven annually?

VOTE YES! – DuPage County should oppose a Vehicle Mileage Tax, this is a highly inefficient way of collecting a tax. You will have to put meters in every car, file a mileage form on your state taxes, and have your vehicle mileage audited periodically. This is already on top of a gas tax we already pay.

3 Shall DuPage County continue to dissolve and consolidate units of local government to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and increase accountability?

VOTE YES! – We need to reduce government and make it more efficient!

VILLAGE OF LEMONT

1 Shall the Village of Lemont become a home rule unit of government pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois?

NOTE NO! – You end up giving power to the board to unilaterally increase both spending and taxes without oversight. We need to keep as many checks and balances in place as we can.

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Posted in Elections, Taxes | Leave a comment

Libertarian Gubernatorial Candidate Left Out of Next Debate

Posted on September 25, 2018 by jpragit

The League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund has decided to leave Libertarian candidate Kash Jackson out of the ABC gubernatorial debates on Oct. 3rd. Their decision is based on the premise that candidates must poll at 10% in order to be included in this debate.

As stated on their website: “The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.” Kash Jackson will be on the ballot in November. How can voters make an informed decision on whom they vote for if the League decides to leave out valid candidates in debates? The League prides itself on being a nonpartisan organization that is effective in voter education and promoting civic engagement. What better way to have this mission manifested than in a debate where all candidates have the floor and voters have a chance to hear from every candidate. Yet the League chose to include only two gubernatorial candidates: that is, “the winners.”

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All Roads Lead to 2020 – Now Let’s Roll!

Posted on September 11, 2018 by jpragit

President Donald Trump’s approval rating just sank across the board in 8 different polls. As Libertarians, we should be mindful that work that we do to promote our current candidates – such as local superstars Kash Jackson for Governor and Claire Ball for Comptroller – are much more than that.  Sure, the Libertarian Party of Illinois is on the verge of achieving major party status for the first time ever.  Sure, we are about a week from making history for being the first third-party to be invited to an Illinois Governor’s Debate.

Kash Jackson and Claire Ball

More than that – we are laying the groundwork for the 2020 presidential election.

Trump is tearing the Republican Party apart. Indeed, most elected Republican officials dislike Trump, but most won’t admit it publicly. This is why you usually only see GOP officials speak with honesty about Trump after they announce retirement.

Meanwhile, there’s no heir-apparent to Barack Obama on the Left so the Democrats may do something stupid like nominate Continue reading →

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Posted in Claire Ball, Kash Jackson, Libertarian Party | Leave a comment