North Cook News

Katie Miller said residents in House District 53 will have someone on the ballot that will fight for them and not special interests.

The Mount Prospect Republican running to replace retiring Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) told the North Cook News that her official filing of candidate petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections means taxpayers in the 53rd District seat, which covers Prospect Heights and Mt. Prospect, will now have a true activist.

“I want to advocate for taxpayers and fight for a balanced budget, responsible spending (and) elimination of all new and unnecessary taxes,” Miller said, adding she has had an overall positive reaction from my constituents when collecting signatures. “People are looking for change in Illinois. I am going to be that change to improve Illinois.”

The wife and mother said her constituents can expect to see more of her in the future.

“I held my first fundraiser two weeks ago and it was very successful,” Miller said. “I will be planning others down the road. I will continue to walk in my district to speak and listen to my constituents. I will also plan to come to events and meetings in my area.”

Miller said was raised not to just complain about problems but to do something about them.

“When elected I will lead the fight for a TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights),” Miller said, adding “I propose transitioning to a 401(k) model which most of the private sector has. Our current model is an unsustainable financial burden to our state. If elected I will not take a pension.”

Miller said rising property taxes and better school funding are also answers she wants to help resolve.

“Our home values are being destroyed while our property taxes are skyrocketing,” Miller said, adding Arlington Heights home values have decreased by 19.5 percent, Mount Prospect by 34.1 percent, Prospect Heights by 36.1 percent and Des Plaines by 42 percent.

“What is needed is a 1 percent hard cap on property taxes,” Miller said. “I will fight hard to make this a reality. It has been done successfully in other parts of the country ... we can do it here.”

No matter the disappointment, Miller will not give up, she said.

“In July of this year my husband received a promotion at work and we actually thought that we were going to have some extra money at the end of the month, instead the state of Illinois took it, our family’s take home pay is less after taxes,” Miller said. “This is what has pushed me forward into to political arena. Increases in taxes are driving taxpayers to move out of Illinois.”

She added her past and passion will prevail.

“I have stood up for my patients my entire nursing career, I will step up and fight for the families of my district,” Miller said, noting she stepped up to challenge Harris when he voted for an income tax hike. “Let’s put handcuffs on politicians who have proven that they are unable able to limit spending on their own.”