Daniel Behr

Daniel Behr was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from New Trier East High School. He attended Northwestern University, earned a bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University in 1983, and a Ph.D. from the University of Antwerp in 2022. His career experience includes establishing various railroad enterprises including a locomotive and railcar renovation business and conducting railroad evaluation, analyses, and prospects for various markets in the U.S. and Germany. He has been affiliated with the Traffic Club of Chicago, East Troy Electric Railroad, and World Chicago.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp and am an entrepreneur. I have worked in transportation, logistics and economic development in the US and around the world. I run a transportation and economic development consulting firm that also supplies rail exports to clients in Europe and Australia. I’m running for the Illinois House of Representatives to advocate for responsible budgeting, enhance economic competitiveness and implement policies that improve affordability for both residents and employers. My approach is grounded in data and emphasizes measurable outcomes, transparency, and long-term fiscal stability. I’m practical, data-driven and focused on outcomes, because in business, if something doesn’t work, you don’t get to pretend it worked.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Improve Affordability and Fiscal Stability. I support disciplined state budgeting, increased transparency and structural reforms that strengthen Illinois’ long-term financial position. My focus is on improving the business climate and addressing cost drivers that affect families and employers.Strengthen Education Outcomes. I support policies that emphasize measurable academic achievement, workforce readiness and curriculum transparency. The goal is to improve student performance and prepare graduates for higher education, skilled trades or careers.Enhance Public Safety. I support data-driven public safety policies that target repeat offenders and enhance community safety.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Transportation infrastructure, economic development, education performance, health care sustainability, government accountability and elder care policy.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a serial entrepreneur with broad and varied experience, with a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. I have a lot of international experience, as well domestic. I am empathetic, yet practical. I am also imaginative and can develop creative and unconventional solutions to thorny problems, being a proven problem solver.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Reduce taxes through reduced government spending, elimination of duplicate administrative layers, which would make the state fiscally healthier, which would enhance the economic opportunities and business climate to stem the mass migration away from the State of Illinois.Reduce crime; no more excessive or politically gratuitous leniency.Enhance education, through focusing on foundational subjects such as STEM topics, with NO state mandates or political messages to distract children from the basic subject skills.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Transportation, economic development, education, health care and infrastructure.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Ronald Reagan

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"Atlas Shrugged", Ayn Rand

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to put oneself in the position of your constituents, clearly understand their problems and find solutions, conventional or creative.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Extensive experience in a wide variety of businesses within multiple sectors.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To fairly represent your constituents and their needs and effect policies that address those needs in a financially responsible way.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I did some good for our District, State and Country and its citizens

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

John F. Kennedy’s assassination

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Howard Johnson’s Restaurant in Wilmette, as a teenager. I had it for a few months, until I curtailed it for studies.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Atlas Shrugged", Ayn Rand

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Establishing several business enterprises and the work that it took to get the PhD.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

An impartial and dispassionate governor that is non-partisan and takes both parties’ concerns into account, rather than be partisan stalwart.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Solving the pension crisis and the mass exodus of businesses and residents from Illinois.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. Often, it’s important to have someone who looks at issues with a fresh set of eyes and ideas.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, of course it is. All parties must be able to understand their respective views.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Everett Dirkson

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I would certainly consider it. I do have considerable international experience and am able to view issues from a macro, overall policy perspective, as well as on a local and granular level. But, for the present, I am focused on the 57th District of Illinois.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Given my background and strong interest in transportation matters, the proposal of merging CTA, Metra & Pace caught my attention & decided to research. The numbers:

CTA has a $6.9 billion debt related to long term pensions, employee retirement benefits and claims (personal injury) - ($2 billion) and $4.9 billion in rough, rounded bonded debt.

Metra has only $312 mm in debt, related to long term pensions, employee retirement benefits & claims

Pace has even less, at $138 mm in debt, similarly related.

In addition, there would be numerous operational problems, as CTA & Metra operate two different technologies, with unique designs & supply chain issues for maintenance of large systems. There would be no capitalizing on economy of scale, due to vastly different operating scenarios and methods, technology, training, facilities, physical dimensions & weight, rolling stock operational characteristics, different speeds, along with operating culture. Metra has no buses, so no similarities there. Pace does have buses, but they are smaller, better maintained and operate over different, higher speeds in suburban territories. I see no system interoperability between Metra & CTA or Pace, other than as feeders to/from stations. There are no operational reasons to consolidate & all the suburbs that are part of the collar counties that are the taxing district funding of Metra do not favor this at all. The rationale for merging the 3 agencies is for overall ticket consolidation, leading to, in effect, integrated ticketing for convenience to the riders. That goal could be accomplished with existing technology, without the risks of merger disruption. This appears to be an effort to bail out the CTA, as the City of Chicago has no funds for bailing out the CTA. The merger would constitute establishing another patronage army within Chicago, which has a long history of these practices. My answer would be no to consolidation of the respective systems.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I would support a balanced approach, where the executive can initially act swiftly but must seek legislative approval within a set timeframe (often days or weeks). This ensures both effective crisis management and democratic accountability.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Legislation to help solve the pension issues.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The local and state Republican organizations, Illinois Family Action

What committees interest you?

Anything to do with transportation, cities & villages, local government, counties and townships, ethics & elections, judiciary, labor & commerce, revenue & finance. state gov administration

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I would want to know where the money will be spent, what are the sources of the funding (without debt), knowing how to measure the efficacy of the policies and what incentives can be put into place to encourage good financial stewardship.