Daniel Rhyne

Daniel Rhyne was born in Belleville, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1992 to 2000. He earned an associate degree from Southwestern Illinois College in 2007. His career experience includes working as a mechanic and union treasurer.[1]

Rhyne has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

United Steelworkers Local 1899

Veterans of Steel

American Legion

Disabled American Veterans

Republican Party

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Marine Veteran/Commonsense Republican

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?

Open Illinois for business, by lowering taxes and easing job killing regulations.Make Illinois safer by ending cashless bail, and backing our police by keeping repeat offenders locked up.Put Illinois citizens first by ending sanctuary policies and lessen the tax burden it puts on us. Lower taxes and reward citizens that have stayed and endured some of the worst taxes in the nation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m personally passionate about the tax burden placed on our citizens, and the safety of our communities.

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

The person I looked up to was my dad. My dad was an honorable man, and he stood for what he believed in. I’m 53 years old and my father has passed and I still try to think of how he would handle situations.

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

I believe one of the most important characteristics of an elected official is integrity. I believe the people should always be put first. Too many times, you see politicians get in office and all of a sudden their family members and friends all end up with jobs that are paid by taxpayers. I would never put my family and friends in positions that could otherwise be filled with citizens of the district. Politics has an awful lot to do with appearances, and the appearance of appointing your wife or mother-in-law to a position is horrible. I would instead elevate members of the community and try to get as many community leaders involved as possible.

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

The core responsibility for someone elected to this office is to always do what’s best for the community and the taxpayers. Never put politics over people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to help my district succeed. I believe there’s still hope with the right people in the right places.

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

The first historical event I remember is the Berlin Wall coming down when I was 16.

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

I worked at M&M tire when I was 15 and I worked there for two summers.

What is your favorite book? Why?

“The Catcher in the Rye” I like this book because it tells about the difficult nature of growing up, and the end of innocence.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

A Jedi, so I could use mind tricks on Pritzker the Hut.

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

I struggle with the fact that my state is failing. My brother moved to Florida, and my daughters have moved to Georgia and Tennessee. Its hard to not give up and move to a red state, but I’m not ready to give up on Illinois just yet.

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

I believe the ideal relationship between the governor and the state senators is to work together and listen to the needs of each district and work together to address the biggest challenges facing each district.

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

I believe our state’s greatest challenges are all the companies and citizens fleeing due to policies that hurt their business and or families. Our biggest challenge over the next decade will be the need for more tax money with less people and businesses to pay them. This will put an even bigger tax burden on the remaining citizens.

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

I do not believe state legislators need to have previous experience in government because sometimes fresh new ideas can be a tremendous asset for turning things around and making situations better for the people and the state.

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

I think it is extremely beneficial to build relationships with other legislators and to work with legislators from both sides of the aisle. We need to get over the current situation our state and country for that matter is in. We have to work together and restore bipartisan relationships and end this my way or no way era we are living in. We have to work for the best of the state and the citizens of our communities. My favorite saying has always been,”people over politics“.

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

If I could model myself after another politician, I would have to pick Ron DeSantis. I feel like he always puts his state and his people first.

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

I would be interested in running for different political office if I succeeded in my current office and there was a possibility I could do more for my state. I would also listen to my peers and the people to see if it’s something they would endorse or not.

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?

I work at US Steel in Granite City and due to job killing regulations, high taxes, and extremely high utility rates that don’t even compare to other states, I’ve seen business after business leave our state. I have friends that have been forced to move and are struggling to get by. Democrats have shut down most of our coal mines, power plants, and a large section of my steel mill. When businesses leave, crime and desperation move in. We have to do better.

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

I believe the legislature should definitely oversee the use of emergency powers and should only grant the use in extreme circumstances.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would love to pass a jobs bill that would lessen regulations and lower corporate taxes to draw companies to our state. I would open Illinois and make it competitive with other states.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I am against changing the ballot initiative process. I think it empowers citizens and promotes democracy.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

I talked to a lady that is raising her granddaughter because her son overdosed on heroine. Her story about how crime and drugs destroyed her family was extremely touching and very tragic.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I graduated Honor-Man in Marine Corps boot camp. Honor-Man is an award given to the Marine that graduates number one in their platoon.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in your state?

I would like to see mail in voting only be allowed in cases of serving abroad. I believe all other voting should be done in person and you must have identification.