Election 2018: Illinois Rep. John Cabello faces challenge from Jake Castanza

Oct. 19--ROCKFORD -- Incumbent state Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, is being challenged by political newcomer Jake Castanza of Rockford in the race to represent Illinois' 68th legislative district.

The district includes all of Loves Park and Machesney Park and sections of Rockford, Roscoe, Cherry Valley and unincorporated Winnebago County. Cabello is seeking his fourth full term. He has represented the district since 2012.

Cabello, 47, is a Rockford police officer and previously served on the Winnebago County Board and the Harlem Township Board of Trustees. He co-chaired the 2016 Illinois Trump Victory Committee.

Castanza, 28, is executive director of Rockford-based Project First Rate, a partnership between union contractors and craftsmen to promote quality construction in the community.

Cabello describes himself as a taxpayer watchdog.

"My job, I believe, is to be a good steward of the taxpayers dollars, the people that actually pay for everything," Cabello said of his role in Springfield. "I remind the other folks down there, sometimes yelling at the top of my lungs, that it's not just a blank check that you can keep writing."

Illinois' population continues to decline, Cabello says, because of the high tax burden.

"We've got to find a way to lower the tax burden on business and on the taxpayers because then we'll hopefully make it more attractive for people to get out of where they are," Cabello said. "Obviously, that has to be coupled with good paying jobs, getting rid of some of the regulations that are on businesses and make it more attractive to do business in Illinois. Once we start adding people to the tax rolls instead of losing people, we'll all start to pay less."

Cabello says his law enforcement background has helped him advance criminal justice reforms in Springfield. He sponsored legislation in 2015 allowing non-violent felons who continue their education in prison and successfully complete probation to petition the court to have their convictions sealed. The goal, Cabello said, is to reduce recidivism by giving former inmates a better chance at job opportunities and housing.

"There's people that make mistakes and some of these people that made minor mistakes are paying for them for the rest of their lives," Cabello said. "We've got to find ways to help people (with criminal records) to become productive members of society."

Castanza agrees the state overspends, has too many units of government and is too reliant on property taxes as a revenue source for public education.

Castanza says his campaign is based on fighting what he calls the anti-middle class agenda being pushed in Springfield.

"Crisis after crisis is being manufactured by these long-time politicians," Castanza said. "They're very complicit with putting middle class pocketbooks under the gun to either tax us or basically raise costs. They're complicit in making the middle class pay more and more and more."

Castanza raised the issue of the state's school funding levels, saying public schools in the 68th District are funded at 60 percent or less of what they should be receiving, according to the state funding formula.

"It's completely unacceptable," he said. "These programs that we keep putting money into don't really have a defined outcome. That's extremely harmful to our public education and the choice for the many versus the choice for the few."

Castanza says he is willing to consider an increase in the state's $8.25-an-hour minimum wage. Cabello says he is against raising the minimum wage.

Cabello opposes abortion rights "unless it's going to save the mother's life or (in cases of) rape or incest." Castanza is pro choice: "I personally don't think men need to be making these decisions," he said. "It's a woman's body."

Cabello is undecided on the legalization of marijuana in Illinois but said, "If we are going to do it, then I think there needs to be a massive user tax that goes along with it. "

The legalization of marijuana, Castanza said, is long overdue.

"We're wasting tons of money in our criminal justice system, both policing and court efforts, in talking about a substance that has been proven to be less harmful than alcohol," he said. "On top of that, we need to take advantage of the economic opportunity in which it presents us."

Castanza said he'll improve upon the constituent service being offered by Cabello and his staff.

"Unlike my opponent, I will be easily accessible," Castanza said. "I won't take meetings with just people who donate to the campaign."

Cabello said his record of constituent service speaks for itself.

"We've done a pretty damn good job, actually," he said. "We pride ourselves on doing what needs to be done to help the people that pay for everything. If you have an issue with one of the state agencies, we try to make sure and get you resolutions to those things very quickly."

Ken DeCoster: 815-987-1391; [email protected]; @DeCosterKen

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