Mary Beth Canty

Mary Beth Canty lives in Arlington Heights, Illinois.[1] Canty earned a bachelor's degree in English and literary & cultural studies from the College of William & Mary in 2003 and a law degree from the University of Arizona in 2006. Her career experience includes working as an associate attorney with Litchfield Cavo LLP, the director of the Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois, and a management consultant with Kenway Consulting.[2][3] Canty has been affiliated with the League of Women Voters, a local PTA, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense, and the Arlington Heights Police Department Citizens Police Academy.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Mary Beth Canty, running for State Representative for the 54th District in Illinois. I have lived in Arlington Heights for thirteen years, and my husband and I have raised our two kids here. I am the daughter of biracial parents and the proud sister of a member of the LGBTQ community.

My father served as a Navy pilot (24 years of service) and my mother worked as an optician, and they both owned small businesses when I was growing up. I am a vocal and passionate advocate for my communities: I have served on my local PTA Executive Board, the League of Women Voters, and organizations within my church. In 2019, I was elected as a Trustee for the Village of Arlington Heights, where I have helped develop an affordable housing ordinance, improved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, helped businesses navigate the pandemic through initiatives such as Arlington Alfresco, and voted for a zero percent property tax levy increase each year of my tenure while maintaining the high level of service residents have come to expect. I am proud of the work I have done in these roles, and I want to do more as State Representative.

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?

Public safety: As State Representative, I’ll work to protect our communities from violence by advocating for common-sense gun laws. This means closing loopholes in background check laws, banning military-style assault weapons, prohibiting the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines, and strengthening our extreme risk laws to stop guns from getting into the hands of those who pose a danger to themselves or others. I would also ensure our first responders have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. That’s why, as Arlington Heights Village Trustee, I voted for budgets that protect police pensions and provide funding for personnel, training, and equipment for the Police and Fire Departments.Women’s rights: I will be a fierce advocate for women’s rights to control their own body and to make their own healthcare decisions. I will work to ensure access to critical health services, including reproductive health services, that are both affordable and available to residents across the state. Specifically, I support legislation that ensures access to contraception, makes abortion safe, affordable, and legal, and eliminates barriers to reproductive healthcare.Property Taxes: Each year that I have served as Trustee, I have voted for a zero percent tax levy increase without cuts to services for residents. Throughout the pandemic, responsible decision-making by our Board has allowed us to maintain one of the best-funded police and fire pensions in the state and invest in businesses through creative initiatives like Arlington Alfresco. I will bring this discipline and practical financial approach to state budget votes, and I will fight to keep taxes in check to enable people to afford to continue to live in our wonderful communities, while prioritizing safe streets, strong schools, and thriving local businesses.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In addition to the above issues, I am a staunch supporter of public education. I attended public schools from kindergarten through law school, and my husband and I moved to this community in part because of the strong school systems that our two children now attend. I do believe, however, that we shouldn’t be forced to choose between underfunding schools or making homeownership prohibitively expensive. I support reform to improve parity and reduce the tax-payers' burden through creative and thoughtful solutions.

Additionally, increased investment in and expanded access to vocational training is also crucial to building opportunity for all, as well as improving our economy, and I will advocate for and support programs to build such skills.

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

A state representative must represent the constituents of their district and put their community’s health and safety first. Crucially, this means having an open-door policy to stay attuned to the needs and desires of residents and then advocating for those issues in Springfield. This is precisely why I have knocked on the doors of over 9,000 voters - so that I can stay engaged with community members and understand and empathize with where their concerns lie. In Springfield, a representative must then work across the aisle to get policies passed. As an Arlington Heights Village Trustee, I have done this many times, when my colleagues across the aisle and I have all voted unanimously in support of efforts that best serve our communities, regardless of our politics.