William Volny

William Volny was born in Park Ridge, Illinois. He earned an associate degree from Robert Morris University in 2010 and a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University in 2024. His career experience includes working in customer service and as a line cook and butcher.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have been a member of the working class for my whole life. Working in restaurants and retail I have met countless excellent hard-working people from all over the world. Being uninsured for the entire time I worked in restaurants took a toll on me but it gave me a unique perspective of the world and the people in it. I decided to leave the culinary field to go back to school and get my BA in Paralegal Studies. While in school I did an internship with a company that helped people find representation when facing eviction and pointed them to renter's rights laws. I am very passionate about worker's rights as well, advocating for union representation in various workplaces. I spend my time away from work with my two dogs, Layla & Tracey. Or you can find me catching a movie at the Siskel or Music Box.

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?

Getting support for the Working Class by increasing wages, access to healthcare, and guaranteed protections for health & safety. I witness the struggles of the Working Class everyday. People have to choose between going to work sick or losing their job, it's a never-ending cycle that is being made worse. We need to stop this and improve the situation immediately.

$15/hr National minimum wage, $25/hr minimum wage for major cities. Free healthcare. Easy access to legal representation.We need to support Ukraine fully. The most recent peace talk deals that would cede Crimea to Russia and bar them from joining NATO are an outrage. We need to take back Congress with progressives that will stop everything Trump is trying to accomplish on the World stage.

Israel is committing genocide on the Palestinian people and we have the ability to stop it. We need to recognize the State of Palestine and help to rebuild Gaza. In order to begin the process of establishing peace between Israel and Palestine, Netanyahu needs to be removed from power. He is overseeing the murder of thousands of civilians, including children and his actions are creating Antisemitism and Islamophobia.We need to start kids on the path to knowledge and discovery Pre-K. Funding programs that support parents to take part in their education. Programs need to be created to expose children to career paths they can explore. Student parents need access to transportation and childcare to allow them to focus on their education.

Student debt needs to be completely erased. An entire generation of people have a crippling amount of student debt that they will never be able to pay. This needs to be eliminated so they can invest in their future. At the same time, public colleges & trade schools need to be free or low cost. This would create wealth in our economy and prevent another generation from being saddled with debt.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Establishing a minimum wage.

Free healthcare for everyone.

Decrease funding to defense while increasing funding to humanitarian aid.

Actually supporting our troops.

Affordable housing.

Free Palestine.

Regulating AI.

Major increased funding for the Arts.

Rejoin the Paris Accords.

Stricter gun laws.

Affordable housing.

Infrastructure improvements and moving our rail system into the future.

Criminal justice reform.

Restructuring police funding.

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

My mom and dad told me about Martin Luther King Jr a lot, I very much look up to him. Recently, I've been reading a book of essays & speeches by Eldridge Cleaver. In it he talks about Stokely Carmichael, Fred Hampton, Malcolm X, Bobby Seale, and Huey P. Newton. Very strong individuals.

All humans have flaws so I try to find characteristics in people that I aspire to. Patience, passion, love, anger, integrity, peace.

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

Honesty and Integrity are the two most important characteristics for elected officials. It is important to remember that you are there to represent your constituents. The people have chosen you because they trust you to lead them forward. Part of being honest is being straightforward with everyone, you may upset some people but it is better to be direct than to dance around the truth. So many elected officials today lack a backbone and have given up their integrity for wealth and power. This is shameful and unacceptable. This isn't about you, it is about the people you represent.

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

It is the responsibility of elected officials to regularly interact with their constituents to hear the things they have to say. And to use this information to enact legislation that supports their constituents, and the American people in general, needs.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'm not too concerned with my personal legacy. I just hope to help people have happier and easier lives. I don't expect anyone to remember my accomplishments though.

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

I was too young to remember Ronald Reagan but I sure remember my parents complaining about him! I think it would have been Clinton's first inauguration in 1993, I would have just turned 8.

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

Besides a local paper route when I was a kid, my first job was at Tio's Mexican Cafe in Ypsilanti, MI. I worked there for three years as a busser, dishwasher, cook, and manager.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I don't think I have a favorite book. I cherish books. Used bookstores are some of my favorite places. The texture and smell of a well-read book. Great.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The two year term is great because if someone is doing terrible or if they discover it is overwhelming to them, they can be voted out/step down relatively quickly. Although there should be more representatives, it is good to have representation based on population. The power of impeachment is pretty significant also.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, not at all. It is more important that they have experience working with people. I also look for someone who listens and shows compassion. Experience in government or politics seems to be a negative lately.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Repairing our relationships with the International community. Getting legislation in place that will stick when people come in to power that are like the current regime. We have a corrupt President, a corrupt Congress, a dastardly Supreme Court, and there's little we can do to stand in their way. It will take a decade to repair the damage that has already been done.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Maybe three years would better, but two seems about right. I only say three because the election cycle is so long. It seems like you have to gear up for re-election almost immediately with a two year term.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits. For people to be in office for 30+ years is insane. You lose touch with reality. We need people in office that still have passion and are aware of the world we live in. I would think ten years would be a good amount of time, give you time to making a lasting impact that someone can build upon.

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

Oh boy, that's a tough question. I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Desirable? No. This is people's lives we're talking about. There is no compromise, this isn't a game. Necessary? Maybe if your own party needs some sort of reasonable compromise to get some important legislation through. The American people are not a bargaining chip.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Just enforcing this would probably ne enough. You have a President AND members of the House that don't respect this power or the Impoundment Control Act AND federal courts that just do what they're told, so I would stand on ground that this be used to rein in the White House. Members of the House have more power than they lead us to believe.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

More aggressively. Again though, it takes a Congress that actually cares what the findings of these investigations are. Rather than just pushing through awful people who will make them richer.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I quit drinking on November 11th, 2021. I'm pretty damn proud of that.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

The government should regulate it. It's being used to hurt people. It also is going to hinder any advancements we make to address climate change. It's going to be in everything sooner rather than later so we'll have to embrace it to a certain degree. Honestly, we've been using AI for years already, it's just not called that. The government just needs to make sure it's used responsibly.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Election Day made into a federal holiday.

Early voting starting earlier.

Mail-in/absentee voting expanded.

Online voter registration.

Increase protection from voter intimidation tactics.