Darren Bailey isn’t happy about Illinois Lottery Control Board Chairman Blair Garber’s being forced to resign as punishment for ridiculing East St. Louis as the “sh**hole of the universe” in a social media post.
“Garber shouldn’t have been able to resign; he should have been fired,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News of the man appointed to the Lottery Control Board by Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2016. “By being able to resign he is able to keep certain perks and rights, which is what’s wrong with the system.”
For some, Garber's words take on even more consequences given that he also serves as a member of the Republican State Central Committee, representing the 9th Congressional District that includes Rauner’s hometown of Winnetka.
“A lot of politicians have a habit of doing whatever it takes to protect people,” Bailey said. “Here; you can’t make any excuses. People need to be fired.”
In the end, Bailey, a Xenia Republican who is running against Rep. Dave Reis (R-Willow Hill) in the 109th District, said the entire episode serves as just another reminder of how much change is needed in Springfield and how desperate some are to maintain the status quo.
“My opponent just released a round of ads that are totally untrue,” Bailey, who formerly served as president of the school board near his Xenia home, said.
“Using Freedom of Information Act order, people recently showed up at the school looking for anything they could find about me voting in favor of any tax increases,” he said. "Now, TV ads are blaring that I supported increases 14 times. There is a blatant difference between voting in favor of tax increase and the levy needed to fund schools and pay teachers. Reis just wants to distract from the fact he voted in favor of the 32 percent tax increase that was part of the new state budget.”
The 109th House District includes parts or all of Jasper, Effingham, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne, Edwards and White counties.
Alerts Sign-up