Steve Rauschenberger
Michael Noland
The latest forum for candidates in the state’s 22nd Senate District may have been held by a neighborhood group, but the topics were far from hyper-local.
Elgin’s Near West Neighbors Association quizzed state Sen. Mike Noland, a Democrat, and Steve Rauschenberger, a Republican, on issues like guns, immigration and abortion.
Noland, who has held the seat for the past four years and Rauschenberger, who held it for the 14 years prior, don’t see eye-to-eye on much, but did manage to find some common ground on several of the issues.
Both men expressed willingness to consider allowing residents to carry concealed weapons with the proper training and licensing.
“I’m open to concealed carry,” Noland said. “However I want to also stem the tide of illegal distribution of firearms.”
He suggested starting a ballistics registry to better regulate the distribution of guns.
Rauschenberger voted in favor of concealed carry during his time in the state legislature. During the forum, he used the example of a nurse working a night shift as someone who would benefit from carrying a Taser or gun for protection.
“Those people who think they can regulate everything only end up regulating the law-abiding citizens,” Rauschenberger said.
One area in which he would like more regulation though, is immigration. While he called on the federal government to better monitor the country’s borders, he also said there is work that can be done at the state level.
“I also think the state has a fundamental responsibility to improve its programs, its eligibility, its rules and its administration to make sure we’re not inadvertently or intentionally in some cases encouraging people to seek public benefits here or to move here for the wrong reasons,” he said.
Noland agreed the state must do its part to stop illegal immigration.
“We can perhaps go after employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers,” Noland said. “This is a key I think to stemming this tide.”
Politically at least, the candidates do not agree when it comes to abortion. Noland said while he personally is against it, he supports a woman’s right to choose.
“I do believe abortion should be extremely rare,” he said. “I do personally feel this is a personal decision.”
Rauschenberger responded that he is “pro-life unapologetically.”
“I feel strongly that life begins at conception,” he said.
The district covers all or portions of Elgin, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, Carpentersville, East Dundee, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Barrington Hills and Schaumburg.
Early voting in the race begins today for the election that will be held Nov. 2.
