Democratic Candidates Profile for 46th Senate District
By: WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: March 20, 2012
PEORIA - This year's primary election features a three way Democratic race for the state's 46th senate district.
Incumbent Dave Koehler of Peoria wants another term in office. It's a seat he's held since 2006.
"I work on both sides of the aisle. I try to do as much bipartisan legislation as possible," he said in an interview with WMBD 31.
Koehler's challengers are two men who have run for public office before.
James Polk of Peoria is a trustee at Illinois Central Illinois who previously served on the Peoria City Council and Peoria County Board.
"I understand government. I understand Springfield, and one of the most important things, I've always been a fighter for the people," he told WMBD 31.
Marvin Bainter of Lewistown runs a small trucking company.
He said, "I have ideas. I've been running a business, and I think government needs to be run more like a business than the way they run now."
When it comes to the issue of creating more jobs, Bainter thinks businesses in Illinois need more incentives and ought to pay less taxes.
"I got money back from the federal government, and I had to pay over $3,000 to the state because they raised corporate taxes," he said.
Polk and Koehler both agree with offering incentives to businesses, but they each say the right job training is just as important.
"We need training. Incentives for businesses, small businesses and large businesses," Polk said.
Koehler said, "I know District 150 has made a start at that. We need to push that more because not everybody needs to be or wants to be a college graduate."
As for the state's dismal finances, Koehler said lawmakers are making good progress so the state lives within its means this year.
However, he is worried about some of Governor Pat Quinn's proposed cuts to some of our state's most vulnerable residents.
"We have to be careful about that because that's our safety net, and we don't want to compound the problem for local communities and for someone else to handle," Koehler said.
The way Bainter and Polk see it, the state's been in the same mess for too long. So they both think it's time for a change in leadership.
Bainter said, "We need to get someone business people in there who actually know how to save and not waste."
"We haven't had people in Springfield who want to fight for the people here in the Peoria area," Polk said.
Whomever wins the Democratic primary will face Republican Pat Sullivan in the November election.
Incumbent Dave Koehler of Peoria wants another term in office. It's a seat he's held since 2006.
"I work on both sides of the aisle. I try to do as much bipartisan legislation as possible," he said in an interview with WMBD 31.
Koehler's challengers are two men who have run for public office before.
James Polk of Peoria is a trustee at Illinois Central Illinois who previously served on the Peoria City Council and Peoria County Board.
"I understand government. I understand Springfield, and one of the most important things, I've always been a fighter for the people," he told WMBD 31.
Marvin Bainter of Lewistown runs a small trucking company.
He said, "I have ideas. I've been running a business, and I think government needs to be run more like a business than the way they run now."
When it comes to the issue of creating more jobs, Bainter thinks businesses in Illinois need more incentives and ought to pay less taxes.
"I got money back from the federal government, and I had to pay over $3,000 to the state because they raised corporate taxes," he said.
Polk and Koehler both agree with offering incentives to businesses, but they each say the right job training is just as important.
"We need training. Incentives for businesses, small businesses and large businesses," Polk said.
Koehler said, "I know District 150 has made a start at that. We need to push that more because not everybody needs to be or wants to be a college graduate."
As for the state's dismal finances, Koehler said lawmakers are making good progress so the state lives within its means this year.
However, he is worried about some of Governor Pat Quinn's proposed cuts to some of our state's most vulnerable residents.
"We have to be careful about that because that's our safety net, and we don't want to compound the problem for local communities and for someone else to handle," Koehler said.
The way Bainter and Polk see it, the state's been in the same mess for too long. So they both think it's time for a change in leadership.
Bainter said, "We need to get someone business people in there who actually know how to save and not waste."
"We haven't had people in Springfield who want to fight for the people here in the Peoria area," Polk said.
Whomever wins the Democratic primary will face Republican Pat Sullivan in the November election.
