As a candidate who juggles multiple tasks successfully, Tony McCombie, a Republican seeking the District 71 state House seat, already allocates her time efficiently, acting as mayor of Savanna and a real estate businesswoman.
“As a business owner, I understand what it means to work hard and sacrifice in order to build strong foundations,” she wrote this week in the online Dispatch Argus/QCOnline.com, a daily newspaper serving the Illinois Quad Cities of Moline, East Moline and Rock Island. “As mayor, I work closely and respectfully with the council to find ways to successfully solve problems.”
Blue Appraisals LLC, McCombie’s specialty real estate business, provides FHA appraisals for Illinois properties, as well as sites in Iowa. She recently accepted an award for modeling volunteerism with the 2016 “Service Above Self” honor from the Rotary Club of Savanna.
| Contributed photo
Married to a spouse who helps her “shine,” McCombie credits husband Curt, a volunteer fireman, with providing consistent support as she advanced in her career. She participates in numerous local civic activities, including the Shadfly Festival, Savanna MAPPING, Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Illinois Mayors Association.
“I will work to reach fiscally responsible compromises that will get Illinois on track toward prosperity,” McCombie in the QCOnline article. “My diverse experience has molded me into a qualified leader who will not become a career politician in Springfield.”
McCombie said she realizes Illinois is currently confronting critical challenges, conceding that the state’s economy continues to degrade, rather than show any signs of improvement. Nevertheless, she expressed optimism.
“With some compromise and hard work, we can reverse the trend," McCombie said in the online article. "First and foremost, we have to create jobs.”
Lamenting a lack of leadership in Springfield and an ongoing exodus of Illinois families and businesses from the state striving to survive, McCombie advocates for funding reform to support the state’s education system and the next generation of workers.
“We have great opportunities to develop our economy, but the financial issues Illinois faces continue to threaten the stability of our business climate,” McCombie said. “Businesses are leaving the state and choosing to grow elsewhere. When we get our finances under control and begin to show simple signs of stability, we can begin to reverse negative trends, which will, in turn, stimulate growth and create jobs. Creating jobs grows our tax base, instead of growing our tax rate.”
After her article appeared in QCOnline, McCombie encouraged constituents through her Facebook page to “please do your research” before voting; read her article and share it with friends.
McCombie has vowed to restore accountability in Springfield by enacting term limits and allowing redistricting. The candidate views Illinois’ current system as “broken” by virtue of having allowed career politicians to remain in power for decades on end. McCombie also supported State Comptroller Leslie Munger’s proposed “No Budget No Pay” measure.
"Career politicians have made a mess in Springfield, and it is going to take term limits and independent redistricting to clean it up,” McCombie said earlier this year. “As your next state representative, I will be a strong voice for the political reforms we need to get our government working for us again."
McCombie has gained the additional attention of election observers in the last few weeks. In late September, she was named to the Republican State Leadership Committee’s (RSLC) “16 in ’16: Races to Watch” list, which identifies “rising stars…in must-watch races” at the national level.
“It is remarkable to me that this race is getting so much attention, but it appears to be as important to the state as it is to our region to see significant changes in the Illinois State House,” McCombie said via her campaign website in response to the designation. “I am honored that our effort to bring solid leadership back to western Illinois has been chosen as an RSLC race to watch. It is a diverse list of really qualified candidates, and I am excited to be chosen.”
Nationwide, campaigners were named from 12 different states; McCombie was the only contender chosen out of all Illinois candidates.
“Illinois has seen enough career politicians,” she said on the website. “It is time for a state representative who will be a public servant and support term limits, redistricting reform, and holding government accountable.”
Having outlined her top priorities as passing a balanced budget, funding education and creating jobs, McCombie said, “I was raised to take action when I see an opportunity to make things better.
“I’m asking you to send me to Springfield to represent our district,” McCombie said. “We deserve representation that is not tied to insiders and special interests. As your representative, I will stand up to both parties when they’re wrong, and do what’s right for you."
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