In The News

Some 84th House hopefuls won’t rule out extending income tax hike

Daily Herald - 2/9/2012 By Marie Wilson

When Illinois lawmakers increased the personal income tax rate to 5 percent last year, they gave it an expiration date — 2015.

One of three Democratic candidates for state representative in the 84th House district says she would not vote to extend the 5 percent income tax past 2015, when it is set to decrease to 4 percent The other candidates, though, say it’s too soon to take a stance on the issue.

Stephanie Kifowit, a 40-year-old Aurora alderman and substitute teacher seeking the Democratic nomination in the March 20 primary, said income taxes should begin decreasing when lawmakers said they would.

“I’m for the state keeping its word,” Kifowit said. “I’m not for extending the tax increase past the date that it’s supposed to expire because that was a promise made to the public.”

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Aurora Alderman Kifowit makes run for Illinois House seat official

By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com September 1, 2011

AURORA — Although she leaked the news last week, Alderman Stephanie Kifowit made her campaign for state representative official Thursday evening in front of about 30 friends and family at Basil’s Greek Dining in Aurora.

Kifowit, alderman of Aurora’s 3rd Ward, is running for the Illinois House of Representatives in a newly created district on the city’s East Side.

Kifowit will run for the Democratic nomination in the 84th District, which includes most of the far East Side of Aurora. The district was added because of the huge population growth since the 2000 census. There is no incumbent living in the district.

The creation of the new legislative district was Kifowit’s motivation to run for Illinois House now. Kifowit has been an alderman for eight years.

“The new district is part of my ward, and I thought it was a great opportunity for me,” Kifowit said.

If elected, Kifowit said she would focus on getting the state’s finances back in order.

“The reality is Illinois is on the brink of financial ruin. You can’t sugarcoat that,” she said. “The number one component we need to (attract) jobs is financial stability.”

Kifowit said that on top of ensuring the state has a balanced budget, she said she would work to make sure Illinois is paying its bills to businesses, schools and non-profits on time.

“If you do business with the state, you’re supposed to get paid. That’s how it works,” she said.

Kifowit said her experience as a veteran makes her different than other politicians, and she would bring fresh ideas to the Illinois House. She served in the Marine Corps for four years.

“I believe I went to the greatest leadership academy in the world,” she said of her time in the Marine Corps.

Although the district is new, Kifowit said she is gearing up for a competitive race. She is the third person to express interest in the Democratic nomination. Alex Arroyo, former chairman of the Aurora Township Democrats, is planning to run. Former Aurora aldermanic candidate Matt Harrington is considering a run.

“No one is going to work harder on the campaign trail or for the constituency,” she said.

Kifowit has a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration, both from Northern Illinois University.

She has lived in Aurora for 16 years. She ran for mayor of Aurora in 2010 and finished third.