Steve Kim: Illinois Attorney General Candidate

ILLINOIS — Ahead of Illinois' June 28 primary elections, Patch distributed questionnaires to candidates running against Democrat incumbents in statewide races, including for the office of Attorney General, which is currently held by Kwame Raoul.

Raoul is running unopposed on the Democratic side.

Three candidates have filed right the face Raoul in the November general election. They include Orland Park resident and former Cook County State's Attorney David Shestokas, downstate Illinois lawyer Thomas DeVore and international business attorney and Deerfield resident Steve Kim.

Steve Kim

Campaign website

https://kimforag.com

City or town of residence

Deerfield

Office sought

Attorney General

Party affiliation

Republican

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Loyola University of Chicago Juris Doctorate, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law

Occupation

RKF Global - Of Counsel

Augustus Global Ventures - Managing Director

Family

Wife (Misuk) and son (Lincoln, 10)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Age

52

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Commissioner - Illinois Human Rights Commission

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee Member

Northfield Township Trustee

Chairman, Senator Mark Kirk Asian American Advisory Council and member of Senator Kirk Small Business Advisory Council

Chairman, Treasurer Dan Rutherford Performance Audit Committee

Member, US State Department Overseas Security Advisory Council - Basra Iraq

Republican Presidential Delegate - Illinois

Republican National Committee Platform Committee - Illinois representative Member, Lake County Reform and Accountability Commission

Why are you seeking this office?

Crime and corruption are out of control in this state, and our current Attorney General has proven that he would rather play politics with public safety than take action. I’m an attorney who has worked around the world, from Cairo, IL to Cairo, Egypt addressing anti-corruption policies, rule of law, and public safety policy. I’ve adjudicated hundreds of civil rights cases as a member of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. I understand the role that the Attorney General needs to play in addressing crime and combating corruption, something our current Attorney General does not.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I hear from people all over the world, especially young people, that they cannot trust politicians to tackle corruption. They find it incredulous because the politicians created the corrupt system so why would they change it and hurt their own interests and ambitions. The Attorneys General of the last twenty years have failed to address corruption in this state, and now the current administration has chosen to play politics with public safety. I am an experienced attorney who has addressed public safety, rule of law, and anti-corruption issues everywhere from Cairo, IL to Cairo, Egypt. I know what it takes to root out corruption and enact and enforce laws that give people the sense of security that we are losing here in Illinois. The same old career politicians are not cutting it. We need someone who can look at the office through a new, experienced lens and provide leadership to tackle the challenges holding Illinois back. I will be that Attorney General.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm an experienced attorney who has worked around the world putting in place anti-corruption policies, fighting for the rule of law, and taking substantive action to bolster American businesses abroad. In contrast, my opponents do not have the experience or temperament necessary to represent every Illinoisan. One opponent has used disgusting language to refer to special needs children and sued a special ed teacher for calling it out. He is embroiled in lawsuits, including against the other candidate in this race, that will only serve as a distraction in November. We need a candidate who can make Kwame Raoul's failures clear, not someone whose own actions will distract from the challenges Illinois is facing.

If you are challenging an incumbent, how would you perform differently if elected?

First and foremost, the Attorney General needs to take action that they haven’t in the past 20 years. Kwame Raoul promises to tackle corruption in 2018 but has taken a backseat to federal prosecutors, passing the buck on his duties. I would partner with federal prosecutors and prosecute those involved in corrupt practices that fall under the state RICO act. I know what it takes to root out corruption as I have worked in countries around the world helping instill anti-corruption policies to bolster their economic outlook. We need an outsider with that experience to take on corruption here. When people hear politicians talk about tackling corruption, they meet those promises with skepticism because politicians created the corrupt system. I’m not a politician, I’m an attorney who has tackled this issue around the world, and I will bring that experience and drive to the Attorney General’s office.

How would you characterize the events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol?

What happened that day was a true tragedy. Joe Biden is the President of the United States and I have seen no evidence to suggest otherwise. While Washington DC continues to debate what happened that day, I am focused on addressing what's happening here in Illinois. New corruption investigations and prosecutions, rising crime creating a sense of fear in our communities, and elected politicians who won't take action. It needs to change.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Unlike our current Attorney General, when I promise to take action on corruption, I mean it. As Attorney General, I will call for strengthened anti-corruption legislation that empowers prosecutors to fight for Illinoisans by removing corrupt actors from office. I will also push to strengthen support for law enforcement, calling for the removal of provisions in the SAFE-T act like ‘free time’ for those on house arrest and no-cash bail that are making it more difficult to keep our streets safe.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been honored to serve the People of Illinois in many ways: as an advisor to Gov. Jim Edgar, as the Chair of Treasurer Dan Rutherford's Performance Audit Committee, as a Commissioner on the Illinois Human Rights Commission adjudicating civil liberties cases, and as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules committee working to strengthen our judicial system. These are just some of the ways that I have worked to make Illinois a place where our children and grandchildren can live and work, and I will take all of this experience and more with me to the Attorney General's office.

What was your first paying job, and what did you learn from it?

In high school, I paved parking lots. It was a tough job that taught me the value of a dollar, and how hard it is to earn a living. That work inspired me to continue my education and pursue the goals I set for myself.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Stop complaining, go out a create the change you want to see. It is something that has stuck with me throughout my career, working here in Illinois and around the world, and it's a major reason I'm running for office. I want to create the change that Illinois needs by taking action to address the rampant crime and corruption that our Attorneys General have ignored for the last 20 years.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am the son and grandson of immigrants who came to this country in search of the American Dream. My father came to Illinois in the winter and knew that in a place this cold, the people would be hardworking. I am a product of that American Dream, and it's something I hope to pass on to my son like every Illinoisan. But with the current administration, that dream is slipping away. That's why I'm running - to get crime and corruption under control and make Illinois a place where more families like mine can pursue their American Dream.