Campaign Info

• Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives 1^st District, Illinois
• Political party: Republican
• Previously elected or appointed offices:  Alderman, City of Blue Island, 1981-1985; Mayor, City of Blue Island, 1985-until present term expires 2013
• Website: www.peloquinforcongress.com
• Contact: http://www.peloquinforcongress.com/contact.aspx
• Mailing address:
• Official campaign committee: Peloquin for Congress

Personal Info

• Age: 61
• Immediate Family: Married to Mary Ellen. Four children: Daniel, David, James and Donna. Two grandchildren.
• Occupation: Funeral director
• Education: Graduate, Worsham College of Mortuary Science

Candidate Questions

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position?

Small businessman for the past 30 years in the district.

What would your priorities be if elected to this office?

Stimulate small business growth and use new technologies to create new opportunities for people. Reduce the size and scope of the federal government.

How do you define a small business, and what can government do to support them that isn't being done?

Anyone who is trying to make a success of themselves.

What steps would you take to reduce the federal deficit? If it includes tax increases, what taxes? And if it involves federal service cuts, which?

The size of the government needs to be reduced and more of the federal dollars should be given to local town, cities and villages and used to help stimulate small businesses.

What should the government do to create more jobs?

Get out of the way and let the private sector create the jobs, not government.

Should there be repercussions for legislators who don’t read bills, and how do you enforce that?

Should the “No Child Left Behind Act” set different measurements than now for economically disadvantaged students, special education students, students learning English as a second language, etc?

We need to get the federal government out of setting guidelines that are not obtainable and let our local school districts educate our children.

Should federal immigration policy be changed, and if so how?

Many of the people who are undocumented are the real workers in our economy. We need to establish a system whereby they can obtain citizenship.

What are your philosophies on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, and what should government’s role be in those issues?

I am pro-life and do not believe that we need to create new laws to regulate society.

What should minimum wage be and through what method should increases be determined?

This should be left to local states to set the value not set a federal standard.

Bi-partisanship is given a lot of lip service by congressional members. Tell us how you would work with members of the opposite party?

I have proven over my 27 years as mayor that I can work with people of all beliefs to get things done.

Do you think some or all of the health care bill should be repealed? What can the government do to provide more access and affordability to health care?

Yes.

What should government’s role be in private sector finance?

Limited.

Who are your political heroes and why?

Following the troop withdrawal from Iraq, what do you think is the future of the war on terror?

This battle will continue to change as the world changes. We will never be able set specific guidelines to deal with this constantly changing problem.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony, sued successfully or had a restraining order placed against you? If so, please explain.

No.