Collin Corbett, an Independent from Palatine, is running for Illinois governor in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey.

Asked why he is seeking office, Corbett said in our candidate questionnaire: "Illinoisans feel stuck. Everything costs more, and we are being asked to do more with less. Better-paying jobs are hard to find … We feel stuck because our broken political system is grinding Illinois to a halt."

Candidate information

Party: Independent

Education: "High School"

Family: "Married to Abbey. One son, Theodore Rex (T Rex), expecting a second child, and a rescue dog, Dustin."

Previous elected or appointed offices: "N/A"

Occupation: "Political strategist and small business owner. Currently on a leave of absence from my companies for this run."

Experience and public service

Corbett has not held elected office. He said in our questionnaire that over two decades he has "recruited and trained over 3,500 everyday people to help them get involved in the political process." He said he founded Cor Strategies, EmpowerPolitics and Long9 Studio, through which he said he has "advanced nearly 1,200 organizations and campaigns throughout the country."

Asked what accomplishments qualify him for the job, Corbett said: "I pioneered a community engagement process that brings residents, local businesses, and government leaders together to set priorities and decide what level of taxation they prefer. That 'local control' approach has helped dozens of Illinois communities solve serious challenges."

On the issues

Top priority — affordability: Corbett said in our questionnaire: "How unaffordable our state has become is the single biggest issue for working families … JB Pritzker has made it worse. He's raised taxes and fees at least 57 times since taking office, costing the average Illinoisan over $1,400 a year more in taxes." He said he would lower property taxes, hold state spending in check, provide relief at the pump and bring down energy costs.

Economy: "Since JB Pritzker took office, Illinois ranks 46th in GDP growth, 45th in job growth, and 39th in income growth," Corbett said. He said he would scale back tax breaks for large out-of-state corporations and instead help small-to-midsize businesses, manufacturers and family farmers. He also said he would phase out the estate tax. On his campaign website, Corbett said he would institute "no tax on overtime and no tax on tips."

Pensions and property taxes: "Decades of politicians underfunding pension funds and high Tier 1 benefit structures mean state funding is consumed paying off legacy debt service while a massive portion of every property tax dollar is diverted to service historical pension debt," Corbett said. He said he would freeze discretionary spending in his first year and phase in incentive programs that "reward local governments for lowering property taxes for working families."

Data centers: Corbett said: "Data centers are one of the most controversial issues facing Illinois, and both major-party candidates only offer extreme positions." He said he would pause all tax incentives for data centers until strict regulations ensure they "pay all their energy costs, limit water usage, and contribute to a property tax relief fund for Illinoisans."

Public safety: Corbett said he would "protect the improvements made under the SAFE-T Act while increasing detainable offenses and judicial discretion." He also said he would prioritize fixing the Department of Children and Family Services, saying: "Under the state's care, more than 1,200 of our most vulnerable children have died and 3,000 seriously injured since 2018."

Government reform: Corbett said he supports "ending partisan gerrymandering with fair maps, giving voters more choice through open primaries, reducing the power of party bosses through campaign finance reform, and increasing transparency in campaign finances."

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire. All answers are presented in the candidate's own words. Ballot certification data is from BallotReady.