Burns Announces Candidacy For 26th District
Candidate Will Burns Declares Gun Violence Top Priority
(Springfield—October 29, 2007) Democrat Will Burns officially filed to run as a candidate for the 26th legislative district today, launching an energetic campaign that will center on improving education, encouraging economic development and ensuring neighborhood safety.
“Our community needs an attentive leader to make sure the voices of the 26th District are heard in Springfield,” Burns said in Springfield today. “Having worked in both Springfield and Chicago, I know how to effectively get that voice heard.”
A key issue for Burns is combating gun violence, which he says is “is one of the most pressing concerns in our community.” As a state representative, Burns vowed to pass legislation requiring background checks for anyone purchasing a handgun from a private dealer.
“No one should be able to avoid a background check when buying a handgun,” Burns said. “The General Assembly has yet to pass legislation closing this loophole. As a freshman member, I will.”
Similar legislation requiring background checks failed in the state house last year by two votes. Rep. Elga Jeffries (D), who currently represents the 26th district, was one of the members to vote against the bill despite being listed as a sponsor of the legislation.
Burns said education funding is another key issue in this campaign. Burns waged a statewide effort to overhaul Illinois’ broken school funding formula during his time at the Metropolitan Planning Council, and he plans to bring the same energy and innovation to the people of the 26th district.
Illinois 26th House district includes encompasses neighborhoods running from the Gold Coast to the Near South Side. The district includes the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 20th and 42nd Wards of Chicago.
Burns, who earned his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Chicago, is a former deputy chief of staff for Senate President Emil Jones Jr. Working for the Senate’s top leader, Burns shaped legislation reforming Illinois’ criminal justice system. Burns also developed key civil rights legislation as an aide to then state Sen. Barack Obama. He currently is Vice President for Conlon Public Strategies, and resides in Hyde Park with his wife Robin Black, and their infant daughter Athena.