My Ambitions 

What Do I Stand For?

My name is Jamil Mckinney.

Throughout my life, I've desired to make positive change wherever I can, volunteering with organizations such as "Feed Our Children," "Emergency Food Network," and "Red Cross." However, I began to wonder how I could promote lasting, meaningful change. After taking time to travel and learn more about myself, I have decided to become personally involved with the wayward society that has led so many of my peers to hopelessness, and to alter such from inside the beast's mouth. 

Many don't desire to pursue politics because they believe that money and corruption are the only avenues to success. I want to prove that one person simply caring a lot about something can bring about significant change. I also desire to inspire others with similar ideals to join me in creating what will inevitably lead to a stronger, more motivated populace. I diverge from politicians in general by caring only about people rather than theatre or menial agendas, but I shall become a great politician and help create a nation where our youth have every opportunity to thrive beyond their means. 

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I am running to promote career opportunities in the form of educational courses in our high schools that give hardworking students avenues to enter the workforce right out of high school, and a leg up in more competitive fields.

These courses include but are not limited to: Surgical Technician Certification Courses, EMT Licensing Courses, Radiology Technician Certification Courses, Network+ Certification Courses, and Internships in varying fields.

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I aim to invest in Nuclear Power as a means of generating power. 

Nuclear energy provides 47% of America’s carbon-free electricity, making it the largest domestic source of clean energy. Nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases while generating electricity.

They produce power by boiling water to create steam that spins a turbine. The water is heated by a process called fission, which makes heat by splitting apart uranium atoms inside a nuclear reactor core.

Nuclear power plants operated at full capacity more than 92% of the time, That’s about 1.5 to 2 times more reliable as natural gas (56.7%) and coal (47.8%) plants, and roughly 2.5 to 3.5 times more reliable than wind (36.1%) and solar (24.8%) plants.

With proper care taken to secure waste, nuclear power can revolutionize energy production and even technology as we know it. Nuclear fuel is extremely dense; in fact, a uranium pellet about 3/8-inch in diameter and 5/8-inch in length contains the energy equivalent of one ton of coal or 149 gallons of oil.
Because of this, the amount used nuclear fuel is not as big as you think. All of the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry over the last 60 years could fit on a football field at a depth of less than 10 yards. Such is even utilized in 28 states, with Illinois holding six plants and being one of three states to have over 50% of its electricity generated from nuclear. However, there are no plants in Southern Illinois; all six are at least 100 miles away from this district.

In short, nuclear power is clean, efficient, and sustainable. As such, I will advocate for Southern Illinois to get its own power plant. 

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I am advocating for Early Childcare and Education, so that our hardworking parents can trust that their children are safe and learning how to behave and thrive in primary school even if said parents must work throughout the day. 

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I will promote Community Building by advertising events taking place in the district more efficiently. I will promote the versatility of the services offered by our libraries and other institutions. I will encourage patience and understanding towards all people, especially those working in food service, security, education, and healthcare. I will advance the distribution of Metro passes to essential workers.Finally, I shall continue to support the Forward 50 project in O'Fallon. 

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I am promoting Teacher and Healthcare Worker Protection in the form of legislation that allows teachers to break up fights without the risk of being sued and provides mental health support to education and healthcare workers. I wish to work with hospitals and social service organizations to combat workplace violence, as health care and social service workers are 5x as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall. Finally, I wish to establish an altruistic and effective checks and balances system for funding in hospitals, schools, education centers, assisted living homes, and the sort to distribute funding in a way that ensures sufficient supply and meets the needs of workers and clients alike. 

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I will fight for Proper Funding in Our Schools, as the state’s evidence-based formula, created in 2018 with bipartisan legislation, is sending more money to under-resourced schools, including some Downstate schools. But Illinois is behind schedule on providing the full funding the legislation calls for. The formula required an increased investment of more than $7 billion in state aid to adequately fund districts statewide and set a deadline for the state to reach full funding of its share of school district budgets by 2027. Yet, since 2018, lawmakers have only made the minimum legally required contribution of $350 million in new state aid each year, with no increase in 2021. The statute aimed to create state-wide equity in education by 2027, but at this rate, such a goal is simply unattainable. That is, unless we all share the common goal of getting back on track.

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My most passionate endeavor is to combat Political Corruption, which has progressed as a "norm" in our government long enough. Greed, selfishness, and complacency are at the forefront of these races that should be conducted by candidates who embrace compassion, discernment, and unconditional benevolence. I will give the term: "Public Servant" a meaning by working with my community to better the socioeconomic situations of everyone from the ground up. I can't do so alone, but together, we can all create a brighter tomorrow.