SE Illinois News

Republican House candidate Darren Bailey wants to know where the outrage is.

“First and foremost, these are our children and we’ve got to do better by them,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “That something like this could happen at a time when we’re being forced to pay these ridiculously high taxes only lets you know how little we’re getting back for our money.”

Bailey’s anger is fueled by a recent Chicago Tribune investigation that found at least 40 Chicago Public School (CPS) students were sexually abused by other students on school grounds over the last decade. The newspaper detailed nearly as many students were preyed upon by an adult predator, including teachers and coaches.

Cynthia Given

“I don’t know of anything that’s being done that deals with this in the extreme way I think it needs to be, and that really troubles me,” Bailey said.

Running against Democrat Cynthia Given in the 109th District, Bailey vows that will all change once he arrives in Springfield.

“From day one, I will demand accountability across the board,” he said. “We have to hold people accountable, right now that doesn’t appear to be part of how Springfield works. As an elected official, when I see a problem I will go to the source and find out who is allowing it to happen. We have to ferret out those who are not doing the job they are in place to do.”

Bailey senses that the people of his district are growing weary of pumping countless dollars into a system that never seems to function as it should, he said.

“The people of this district are tired of paying all this money when all it seems to do create is more bureaucracy,” Bailey said. “That seems to be the biggest reason Chicago taxes are so high, that and all the fraud and waste.”

The 109th House District includes Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.