SE Illinois News

Darren Bailey stands ready to embrace the role his supporters have cast him in.

“My constituents support me because of my strong voice on tax reform, reduced spending and returning integrity to Illinois,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “People are tired of all the dysfunction and incompetency. I get that message everywhere I go across this state.”

A recent Realtor.com survey found Illinois now has the second highest property taxes in the nation, largely accounting for the state being one of only two places to have experienced population decline in four straight years.

Cynthia Given

“People are looking for other places to move to avoid all these rampant taxes and it’s only getting worse,” said Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given in the 109th House District. “Someone has to be willing to take a stand for the everyday people of this state.”

With property taxes now exceeding mortgage payments for some, Illinois leads the nation in raw population loss, with the Illinois Policy Institute reporting in July 2017 that the state was losing at least one resident every 4.6 minutes.  

During a yearlong period commencing in July 2016, the state lost 115,000 people overall and since 2010 nearly 643,000 residents have fled Illinois.

“We’re currently paying for promises that people in power made before,” Bailey said. “You’ve got all these people that are benefiting from this system and, at the same time, you’ve got the people who made the promises and they’re still benefiting from what they created. The harsh reality is we're all going to have to give something up to get this thing back on track.."

Bailey said many of the “regular people” he is hoping will send him to Springfield now seem spooked by the thought of what could come next.

“They fear the idea of more taxes and the prospect of this economy slowing down and they not being able to provide for their families,” he said. “In Illinois, higher taxes are something that always seems imminent.”

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