Dupage Policy Journal

Republican House hopeful Jay Kinzler laments that the sexual abuse scandal now rocking the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system is a sobering sign of the times.

“It’s a symptom of everything that’s wrong with Chicago that’s been controlled by Democrats for over 100 years,” Kinzler told the DuPage Policy Journal. "We see an example of what one-party rule can do without checks and balances. That’s not how our founding fathers meant for this to be.”

A Chicago Tribune special investigation recently uncovered that over the last decade at least 40 CPS students --more than half of them special needs students --  have been sexually abused by other students while on school grounds. The newspaper also reported that almost just as many students were victimized by an adult predator, ranging from a teacher to a coach or other staffer. 

Rep. Deb Conroy

“It’s a travesty of trust that a parent would have to deal with something like this,” said Kinzler, who nonetheless added he could see how something like this could happen.

“A lot of it has to do with the patronage system of not having the right people in the job to do what needs to be done," he said. "We need professionals in those positions, not someone just there because someone else is beholden to another. It shouldn’t take a newspaper to have to bring something like this to the forefront.”

Kinzler, who is running against Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) in the 46th House District in November’s general election, said the only way voters can stop all the madness is by expressing their anger and demands at the ballot box.

“We got a lot of people vulnerable, but no one is doing enough about it,” he said. “These are children, our most vulnerable, and they need to be protected.”

A doctor by trade, Kinzler said the perspective he brings to Springfield would be among the most unique and makes him perfect for what’s now needed most.

“My job is to save lives, to oversee and protect others, to make things better by constantly reassessing the situation,” he said. “That’s what I want to take to Springfield. CPS is one of the highest funded entities there is, but it doesn’t return a good product in many ways and this is an example. It’s all a symptom of a bigger problem and more flawed system.”

Kinzler said Conroy is among those who have been idly sitting by for too long.

“My opponent talks a good game and knows all the right words to say, but she has been in a leadership role for six years now and I think the results speak for themselves,” he said. “These scandals keep occurring, our bond rating is still one of the lowest and job creation has not kept pace with other places. The proof is in the pudding when you are beholden to others and that’s what drives the system.”

The 46th House District includes all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Glendale Heights, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.