Now more than ever, Darren Bailey stands by one of his original campaign slogans.
“When I started running for office, one of my first slogans was ‘no more career politicians in Springfield',” Bailey, a Xenia Republican now running against Democrat Cynthia Given of Olney in the 109th House District, told the SE Illinois News. “I said for once politicians needed to be concerned about taxpayers and doing things in their interest, and not any perks they could get from the job. I've said we needed unselfish legislators.”
Bailey argues that the findings in the Chief Executive’s 2018 “Best and Worst States for Business” report concluding that for the fourth straight year Illinois ranked No. 48 of 50 states, ahead of only New York and California, justify his position.
At the other end of the spectrum, Texas ranked tops, followed by Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Closer to home, Indiana ranked No. 5 and Michigan, up nine spots over last year, ranked No. 27.
“This is just another indicator of the mess created by state lawmakers that the people are now being forced to pay for,” Bailey added. “Workmen’s compensation is too high, and we desperately need tort reform to stop all the frivolous lawsuits and all the lawyers lining up to sue for almost anything.”
Bailey said he has a clear and strategic plan for impacting things once he arrives in Springfield as part of the new ruling class.
“I’ll be looking to develop friendships and influence that will allow me to work together with others who understand the need for change,” he said. “We need to be talking these things through if we’re ever going to get to any solutions.”
The 109th House District includes parts or all of Jasper, Effingham, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Wabash, Wayne, Edwards and White counties.
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