Both candidates running for the 79th Illinois House seat say the economy is a top concern for voters in a district that encompasses parts of Will, Kankakee and Grundy counties. Incumbent Jackie Haas, 58, of Bourbonnais, who has been serving in the House since 2020, is facing Monee Township Trustee William “Billy” Morgan, 33, in the upcoming November election. Morgan was one of four candidates in the Democratic primary in March while Haas was unopposed on the Republican side. Haas and Morgan said voters are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of living, which is exacerbated by inflation, high property taxes and utility rate hikes. Many residents are worried about making ends meet and are struggling to afford essentials like groceries, gas, prescription drugs and clothing for their children. As a result, more people are leaving the state in search of financial stability, Haas said. “We really need to make sure that people are able to afford everyday items for themselves and for their families and keep a roof over their heads,” she said. Republican candidate for House District 79 Jackie Haas. (Provided by Jackie Haas) (Provided by William "Billy" Morgan)Democratic candidate for House District 79 William “Billy” Morgan. (Provided by William “Billy” Morgan) To ease the financial burden on taxpayers, Haas said voters want more control over government spending, especially regarding immigration. Residents are looking for greater focus on essential services like education, public safety, and support for vulnerable communities, including veterans, seniors and young children. “We’ve really got to rein in our spending, control our costs,” Haas said. “We can’t continue to look to balance the budget on the backs of citizens and businesses. We can’t drive out more people. We need to keep folks here in Illinois.” Morgan said many people are living paycheck to paycheck, a situation that could be alleviated by supporting a state child tax credit to assist working families with childcare, as well as a state referendum for property tax relief. If the referendum passes, he plans to implement a strategy to provide rebates to property owners statewide. “They’re finding that they have to work longer just to stay where they are to get by,” he said. “As people start wondering if the American Dream has passed them by, I think the state of Illinois has an obligation to provide relief to people.” Morgan aims to expand the federal Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps low- to moderate-income working individuals and families by reducing their tax burden and encouraging work. Expanding these initiatives at the state level, he believes, will provide essential relief to working-class families in the district. “We don’t want children living in poverty, and programs like the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, we need to expand them to make sure that nobody’s falling through the cracks and that everybody’s able to get a little bit of relief to just make their life a little bit easier as they work and try to raise their families,” Morgan said. Morgan said he would oppose proposed rate hikes by Aqua Illinois, one of the state’s largest private water providers, which services parts of the 79th District. The utility has requested a $19.2 million increase, which would raise monthly water bills by $30, to fund infrastructure upgrades and rising operational costs. The district spans 27 municipalities, with the most overlap in University Park, Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Essex, Monee, Park Forest, Bradley, Braceville, Limestone and Lakewood Shores. Before entering politics, Haas was a social worker for 30 years, where she focused on helping underserved communities. In 2000, she became the CEO of the Helen Wheeler Center for Community Mental Health where she championed access to care. If re-elected, one of her top priorities will be to expand mental health services in economically burdened communities, ensuring everyone has the support they need, she said. Haas also served on the Kankakee County Board from 2018 to 2020, and lives in Bourbonnais with her husband Bill and their two children. Haas said she plans to empower working women in Illinois through legislation focused on workforce development, business education and healthcare access. One key initiative she is pursuing is an accelerated program for small business leadership at community colleges, along with child care reimbursement programs and funding for medical residencies. A new law passed this year backed by Haas established a daycare orientation program to help women become daycare owners. The program has been redesigned for better accessibility, offering virtual training and options in various languages, she said. As a legislator, Haas describes herself as a “true citizen legislator” who brings her constituents’ voices to the table and into the discussion. Aside from being a trustee, Morgan is vice president of the Monee Historical Society and chair of the Monee Township Democratic organization. Morgan is also an advocate for equal school funding and played a key role in keeping two schools open in the Crete-Monee School District 201. In 2018, when the district proposed closing Coretta Scott King Magnet School in University Park and Talala Elementary in Park Forest, he and fellow residents fought for a referendum, gathering signatures and knocking on doors to get the issue on the ballot. Voters ultimately chose to keep the schools open, a victory that inspired Morgan to run for public office. Morgan said there is also a need to address corruption in Illinois politics by banning conflict-of-interest voting, which currently allows legislators to vote on issues that affect their jobs or businesses. “We need to have as much confidence as we can as a population that our legislators are doing what’s best for all residents, and not just helping their own bottom line,” he said. Morgan wants to focus on investing into the district by creating well-paying jobs and enhancing the Southland region as a destination for work, dining and recreation. If elected, Morgan aims to be a legislator focused on “tireless advocacy on behalf of everyday people.” State campaign finance disclosure reports show Haas campaign took in $21,000 in contributions during the April-June quarter. Expenditures were nearly $28,700, and at the end of the period, the campaign had nearly $62,400 available to spend. For Morgan, receipts in the April-June period totaled about $34,800. Expenses for the quarter were nearly $62,900, and at the end of the period, the campaign had about $2,000 left to spend. [email protected]