Illinois House of Representatives District 38 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Illinois, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Illinois House of Representatives District 38 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Illinois House of Representatives District 38

Incumbent Debbie Meyers-Martin defeated Tom Toolis in the general election for Illinois House of Representatives District 38 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Debbie Meyers-Martin (D)	70.7	27,135
		Tom Toolis (R)	29.3	11,229

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,364
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Tom Toolis (R)

Safe Communites, andSafe Streets

Fiscal and Financial responsibility

Economic Freedom

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Tom Toolis (R)

The burden of increased tax (income, real estate and sales) placed on the people and businesses of Illinois is oppressive. Illinois needs to increase opportunities for small business to assist them and stop instituting tax and legal policy that makes it more difficult for a small business to operate.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Tom Toolis (R)

Moral Character. An elected official needs to have a strong backbone and belief in their ideals. Not just someone that will sway with the current political trade winds or have their vote bought by donations or political favors.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Tom Toolis (R)

Being honest can sometimes be difficult because it makes individuals vulnerable. It reveals who we really are and discloses our mistakes, which gives others the opportunity to criticize or reject openly. Honesty develops character and builds credibility and trust, which are the foundation to evoke confidence and respect from those around you, and in the case of political leaders, teammates and constituents. Having confidence in a political leader is about having faith or belief that he or she will act in a right, proper, or effective way. A good political leader needs to be both confident in himself or herself as well in their ability to lead. Leaders who possess this quality inspire others, drawing on a level of trust which sparks the motivation to get others on board and get the job done.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Tom Toolis (R)

I was born in 1971. The first major historical event i remember was the Iran Hostage situation. I was 8 years old in 1979.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Tom Toolis (R)

I was a cashier at Keane Gas Station at 85th and Cicero in Burbank, Illinois. I was 15 when i started working there and stayed until i was 17.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Tom Toolis (R)

Overcoming the challenges created by Covid, including the economy, the burden placed on families and children, and the effect on small business.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Tom Toolis (R)

Not at this time. Illinois really needs some help and unlike must of my peers , friends and associates, i an unwilling to just pack up and leave. Hopefully if I stay and I am able to get elected, I will be a part of the solution and get this State turned in the right direction.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Tom Toolis (R)

Why didn't the skeleton go to prom? He didn't have any body to go with.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Tom Toolis (R)

Yes, my goal is to work with both sides of the aisle to make Illinois a better place. Although compromise is necessary, i do believe some ideals are worth fighting for. Illinois needs to lower taxes and turn the mass exodus of people leaving the state around.

See also

More about these elections:

• Illinois House of Representatives elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

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