With three terms as mayor of Arcola under her belt, Lynda Warfel Fishel believes her experience in public service will serve her well in the Illinois legislature.

Fishel is one of four Republican candidates competing for state representative from the 110th District running in the March 19 primaries. One Democrat is also running for the position.

If elected, Fishel said that she has several issues that she will focus on, including property taxes, education and economic development.

Fishel has campaigned on a platform of funding education through income or sales taxes rather than property taxes.

“Property tax is a burden on the family farm and other property owners,” she said. “It is unfair and needs to be addressed.”

As a state representative, Fishel said she would look at the several existing proposals out there to “shift” revenue sources away from property taxes.

“The key is to find one (plan) that people in the northern part of the state can agree on,” she said.

Fishel also said that Eastern’s $2.3 million budget cut is “something that needs to be re-evaluated.

“As far as the state budget is concerned, education is the last place I’d cut funding,” Fishel said. “It’s just not a smart money-saving cut. You pay for it down the road 20 years later.

“I would seriously look at any cuts to Eastern and Lake Land College both as a negative thing to do,” she said.

Economic development is also on Fishel’s to-do list.

As Arcola’s mayor, Fishel said she helped create an industrial park that brought over 1,000 jobs to the area.

“An aggressive approach by the business community, developers and government agencies is required at the state, federal and local levels,” she said.

Fishel was born in Champaign County, and has lived in Arcola for 35 years. Before becoming mayor, she ran a women’s apparel store and worked on a farm.

Her husband of 43 years, Jack Fishel, is a graduate of Eastern. They have five children and 14 grandchildren.

The boundaries of the 110th District were recently redrawn to include Coles, Douglas, Piatt and parts of Edgar and Champaign Counties, a change Fishel said makes it harder for her to campaign.

“It’s been hard for me; it’s made it hard for a lot of people,” she said. “Especially in this first election, I think people are confused about where the lines are.”

Fishel said she is not sure of what her chances are in the upcoming primary.

“I’ve never run for an office on this level before,” she said, “so I can’t really gauge it.

“But it’s something that’s been a good experience and I’ve enjoyed it, no matter what happens on (March 19).”