As a former prosecutor, I protected victims, advocated for families and children, and held criminals accountable. I was a Cook County prosecutor under Dick Devine, back when criminals were held accountable in Cook County and laws were respected. We respected law enforcement and made sure communities were safe. So to see an extreme agenda enacted in Cook County under Kim Foxx, where violent criminals were released into our communities—that was heartbreaking to me. Our families deserve to feel safe.

I have always been a strong voice for families and protecting children, especially our most vulnerable. In the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, I saw firsthand how children often have no voice in the law. I worked to be their voice and fight for their rights to ensure they are cared for. In our charity, we help children in working families have the necessities so they can be successful at school and grow to become leaders in the community.

In Springfield, I am fighting to hold the people who hurt children responsible. I have secured bipartisan support for legislation charging individuals with a sex crime if they video children in a bathroom. This commonsense bill is being blocked by special interests, but I won’t stop until it is made law in Illinois. And I am working with local law enforcement to protect our children from fentanyl.

I am also working to reform our criminal justice system to help rehabilitate criminals and ensure our children never turn to a life of crime in the first place. Everyone deserves a chance at life, especially our kids who sometimes just need someone to believe in them. I voted to keep children 13-and-under out of general population in jail. I am working to ensure our young people have educational and vocational opportunities. I support specialty courts to provide support to those in the judicial system who need help breaking free from addiction or struggling with mental health issues.

We cannot let extreme political agendas stand in the way of protecting our families and children. This is our home, this is our community—and I won’t let anything stop me from keeping it safe.