State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) spoke during a pre-election rally at the IBEW hall in Decatur on Tuesday. (Facebook/State Rep Sue Scherer)
By Dave Dahl
DECATUR – With the Workers’ Rights Amendment on next week’s ballot – promising to strengthen the power of union labor – Democrats turned out Tuesday for a pre-election rally at the IBEW hall in Decatur.
Two lawmakers told family stories of how unions carried them.
“It’s hard to say this without crying,” said State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) about her grandfather, “but what he did — I wouldn’t be here. None of my fmaily would be here, because Gramps had the courage to stand up” — risking his and his loved ones’ lives — “and say, I know how important it is to unionize.”
State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said her father had only one job after moving from Texas to Springfield in the 1940’s – at Allis-Chalmers.
“That union job – him being a member of the United Auto Workers – provided a very good middle-class life for me and my sisters and brothers, and continued to do so after my father died, because my mother got his pension and insurance.”
Scherer added a story about a friend who suggested to her unions have played out. The friend is married to an Archer Daniels Midland executive.
Dave Dahl can be reached at news@wjbc.com
Region: Bloomington,Feeds,News,City: Bloomington,Region: Central
PEORIA (25 News Now) – A massive problem facing Peoria area businesses and local governments is what Chamber of Commerce CEO Joshua Gunn calls ‘talent drain.’ People are leaving the city of Peoria to explore opportunities elsewhere leading to a consistent population decline over the last decade.
State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth who represents Peoria in Springfield helped secure a $500,000 grant from the state to help attract more people.
In a press release, Booth said, “This investment will help catapult the efforts of our business community to retain the talent in Peoria, and to make Peoria a preferred destination for talent from all over the nation, and the world. This initiative will not only help to meet the needs of our existing businesses, but will also attract new business, spark additional community investments, and grow tax revenue to support critical services throughout the area.”
Chamber CEO Joshua Gunn said for those who live here, “It means that we’re going to make investments in things that are exciting and fun and vibrant for Peoria.”
“So if you’re thinking about ‘man, there isn’t really anything to do here, I want more stuff to get into that’s going to look like a top choice city,’ we’re going to make those investments,” explained Gunn.
The goal over the next decade is to create population growth by making the city more attractive to workers, and this $500,000 will go directly toward those efforts.
Michael Halpin, a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 72nd district, joined Mike Weaver on WRAM to let listeners know more about him and why he is running for State Senate. He will be on the General Election ballot on November 8, 2022.
PEORIA, Ill. – As part of efforts to modernize local infrastructure and make our streets safer, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, will be accompanied by Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and local leaders Monday to highlight grant funding she secured for street light replacement in area neighborhoods.
“Sadly, some of the light poles still in use today are literally crumbling,” Gordon-Booth said. “As we begin to replace them, we are increasing public safety because it allows the area’s police presence to be more visible, makes residents more likely to spend time outside, shows that the leadership is committed to improvement and gives the neighborhood a greater sense of pride in their community.”
“This significant investment in brighter and more efficient street lighting is beneficial to the well-being of our community while making our streets safer for everyone that uses them,” Ali said.
Monday’s press conference will be held at 1 p.m. at the 500 block of W. Main St. in Peoria, an area in line to receive lighting upgrades. The project’s planned scope includes:
The SW Adams St. concrete poles;
MacArthur pedestrian lighting near Martin Luther King, Jr. Park;
Orchard District, including Flora, Ellis and Elizabeth Streets;
Glen Ave. from Sheridan to Knoxville;
Prospect Ave. from London to Forrest Hill;
Frostwood near Mark Bills Middle School from Andover to Creighton Terrace;
Willow Knolls from University to Allen.
In total, $3.39 million is expected to be spent on the project, with $2.5 million provided via a state grant. Local and federal money will cover the rest of the project.
For more information, please contact RepJGordon@gmail.com or SPeterson@PeoriaGov.org.
The newly redrawn state representative 68th District covers the eastern portion of Rockford and all of Belvidere, areas with significant Latino population. The Republican candidate, a newcomer to politics, believes he understands the issues concerning voters.
Jonathan Ojeda said, when knocking on doors, folks tell him of their concern for the rising cost of food and other essentials. He said economic concerns and securing a better future for his daughter are the reasons that he’s running.
“Right now, the way it’s looking at is taxes keep going up, and they’re not going back down, and legislative officials aren’t going to give those back,” Ojeda said.
“When it comes to where the money will be coming from going forward, I think it needs to come from elected officials. I mean, it blows my mind right now that we have state legislators making over six figures in the state that’s suffering.”
Ojeda’s challenger is incumbent State Representative Dave Vella, a Rockford Democrat. The former defense lawyer said his legislative experience has not increased his wealth.
“I have probably taken a 50% pay cut to do this. It’s not my intention to make any money,” Vella said.
His legislator salary in 2021 was just above $70-thousand dollars, according to salary data from the Illinois State Comptroller’s Office.
Illinois State Board of Election
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2022 redrawn map of the state representative 68th district.
Gas tax
Ojeda said the cost of living is way too high and wants the state to get rid of the gas tax.
“The fact that we have state legislators that are going ahead and passing these bills that are basically crippling the middle class, I don’t understand how we can just be pushing legislation like this, that’s basically affecting us,’ he said.
“My wife works an hour away. Right? So when she comes home, she has to make her stops. We can’t afford for her to go back out and buy groceries. We have to make sure that we’re on a very fixed income, we’re very fixed budget.”
That gas tax increase passed with bipartisan support in 2019. Under the law the gas tax would be calculated by a percentage to adjust for inflation instead of a flat tax.
Safe-T Act
Also, Ojeda wants to get rid of the Safe-T Act. He said the law makes his family and the community less safe. The law signed in 2021 implemented major reform measures to policing to increase transparency and accountability. It also reformed what happens pre-trial such as eliminating cash bail, that goes into effect in January.
“We have to sit down and talk about what we can do to make it safe, not just have this blanket, no cash bail,” Ojeda said.
“And I think there’s a lot of miscommunication on that, because I’m seeing nothing but opposition from sheriffs or first responders.”
The law has been a target of a lot of misinformation, but critics also say the bill containing hundreds of pages was rushed in the legislative process. Winnebago, Boone, Ogle and DeKalb counties state’s attorneys are among those who have announced lawsuits challenging the law.
State Representative Vella said he sits on the public safety working group, reviewing the legislation and creating proposals for changes.
“In the grand scheme of things, what it was, it was trying to take money out of bail, Vella said. “As a criminal defense attorney, I saw murders post bond and get out the same day. And I saw retail theft, sit in jail for a week and lose a job and DCFS takes their family. So taking money out was the right thing to do. We just have to make sure that it’s done in a safe way for the whole community.”
Some have voiced concerns about the costs associated with weekend judges and court staff. Vella said lawmakers aim to address that too, in the veto session scheduled after the elections.
“Cook County has more sources of funds and outside of Cook County, And that’s part of the reason that I’m down there is to make sure that Rockford and Winnebago County and Boone County don’t get forgotten,” Vella said.
“I think that there’s money to be had. I think there’s, you know, we’ve we’ve made a lot more money from marijuana revenues than we ever thought we were gonna. There’s money there.”
Background
Ojeda serves as a firefighter in the Illinois Airforce National Guard, which he fulfills every month. He said he was a full-time firefighter in Peoria and left his position to run for office.
The thirty-two-year-old went to high school in Schaumburg and moved to Belvidere in 2020 with his wife and young daughter.
Ojeda is a first generation American whose family hails from Puerto Rico and, from his mother’s side, Cuba. He said he feels at home in Belvidere and loves the Hispanic culture represented there. He doesn’t buy that most Latinos are affiliated with Democrats.
“My family for a longest time, they’ve always held conservative views,” he said.
“I know a lot of people when it comes to their faith and where they belong, it’s definitely in the Republican Party, and I definitely hear from them.”
Vella’s background is Italian. He sits on the board of the Rockford Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and said it’s helped him understand the challenges facing Latinos especially in Belvidere.
“Obviously, there’s language issues,” Vella said.
“There’s also issues of kind of culture. So, Belvedere is part of Boone County, and there’s a farming community and there’s the Latino community. And there’s pushback here [and] there.”
The 68th district covers Belvidere, which is nearly 40 percent Latino, and an eastern portion of Rockford — the Broadway area — that is also heavily Hispanic.
Expensive contest
Ojeda has raised thus far over $54,000, but that lags incumbent Vella’s $two million raised, making it one of the more expensive contests in the state. Vella won the seat by 239 votes when he ran against Republican John Cabello in 2020.
State Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) said the latest plans call for trail improvements at the Tonti Canyon (shown here) and La Salle Canyon Bridge and Trail System will involve upgrading or replacing timber bridges, stairways, wooden boardwalks and retaining walls (Tracey MacLeod)
State Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) said Thursday millions of dollars in state grants are heading to Starved Rock State Park for improvements.
Alvin Harper, complex superintendent for Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks, said the funds were allocated in an appropriations bill enacted April 19, bringing about $10 million to Starved Rock. The next step is for the Capital Development Board to bid out the project to a design team and/or engineering firm, meaning construction and improvements might not commence in 2023.
Working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Yednock said the latest plans call for trail improvements at the Tonti Canyon and La Salle Canyon Bridge and Trail System that will involve upgrading or replacing timber bridges, stairways, wooden boardwalks and retaining walls
Additionally, trail improvements at the lower French Canyon River Trail bridge/Jacob’s Ladder, to remove and replace a bridge and expand the boardwalk connecting one bridge to a stairway
Improvements also include replacement of a bridge and stairway on Pontiac Canyon Bluff Trail, upgrades to the park’s water filtration systems and addition of five new vault toilets for visitors and electrical upgrades to 58 campground sites, to provide stronger service for RVs.
Yednock noted additional millions of dollars for infrastructure upgrades and additions will be announced in the coming months for Matthiessen State Park, Illini State Park and the Illinois and Michigan Canal.
Earlier this summer, Yednock said he met with officials from IDNR and the State’s Capital Development Board to tour the park sites. They discussed needed improvements and the funds needed to make them.
“Improved bridges, walkways, and electrical, water and toilet systems are the critical infrastructure needed to keep Starved Rock as a world-class tourist destination every year,” Yednock said. “I’m excited to work with the state agencies to get these projects going in the coming months and to build on the wonderful outdoor recreational centers we have right here in our backyard.”
Initial funds have been released for the Starved Rock priority projects and planning work will begin later this year.
Millions of dollars in state grants are earmarked for Starved Rock State Park. That’s according to State Representative Lance Yednock.
The Democrat who is being challenged by Republican Jason Haskell says he’s secured commitments from the state for much-needed infrastructure work at Starved Rock. Additional infrastructure upgrades according to Yednock will be announced soon for Matthiessen State Park, Illini State Park and the I&M Canal.
As far as Starved Rock improvements, the list includes: trail work to Tonti Canyon, La Salle Canyon, and French Canyon; replacing a bridge and stairway near Pontiac Canyon; upgrades to the park’s water filtration system; and electrical upgrades to nearly 60 campground sites.
Yednock says initial funds have been released for priority projects and planning work will being later this year.
Republican Jonathan Ojeda is taking on Democrat incumbent state Rep. Dave Vella in Illinois’ 68th legislative district, which encompasses much of Rockford’s east side as well as Loves Park, Machesney Park and sections of Belvidere and Boone County.
Vella is a Rockford native who is running for his second two-year term in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Ojeda is a Belvidere native and is running for public office for the first time.
State representatives in Illinois serve two-year terms and are paid a salary of $70,645 a year.
Ahead of the Nov. 8 election, we asked the candidates what the most pressing issues they’ll face if elected and what they would do about them. Here is a closer look at the candidates.
Dave Vella
Age: 52
Family: I have been married to my wife Michelle for 22 years and have two children: Ryan, who is a machinist and Grace, who is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin.
Hometown: Rockford
Education: Rockford Public Schools through eighth grade, Boylan Catholic High School, Augustana College, Northern Illinois University College of Law
Profession: I am a full-time legislator, but before that I was a defense attorney for 25 years.
Memberships and associations: Illinois State Bar Association, Winnebago County Bar Association, Holy Name Society
Political experience: Rockford Township Trustee from 2017 through 2021, state representative for the 68th District since 2021.
Endorsements: Illinois State Troopers Lodge #41, Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois Sheriffs Association, Associated Firefighters of Illinois, ABATE of Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, AFSCME, Northwestern IL Building Trades and its Member Unions, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Retired Teachers, Illinois AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club
What are the top three issues in your race and how do you plan to address them if elected?
Education: I have made sure that our schools are preparing our kids for life after graduation. I have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars back to our local schools to fund vocational education that gives our kids real, hands-on training. It also gives them a career path if they decide college is not what’s best for them.
Jobs: If we want our young people to stay in our community, we need good jobs for them to work. I spent every day of the last two years in office selling the Stateline to corporations and small businesses. I passed multiple bills to support jobs in the Stateline, including keeping the Byron Nuclear Plant open and reinvesting in the Belvidere Assembly Plant, which will provide thousands of good paying jobs.
Public safety: People need to feel safe and comfortable in our community if they’re going to raise their families here. I supported new funding for solving crime and incentives for people from our community to serve as police officers. I am supported by first responders because I am committed to smart, common sense public safety policy.
Jonathan Ojeda
Age: 32
Family: Married to Hilary Ojeda. The couple has one daughter, Olivia.
Hometown: Belvidere
Education: Community College of the Air Force
Profession: Firefighter
Memberships and associations: AFSCME union steward, SEIU union steward, Vice President of Northern American Hispanic Assembly
Political experience: None
Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, state Sen. Dave Syverson, former state Rep. John Cabello, Boone County Treasurer Curt Newport
What are the top three issues in your race and how do you plan to address them if elected?
Crime: In order to address crime, we need repeal the Safe-T Act so we can restore cash bail and keep dangerous criminals off the street. We need to give police officers the tools, training and funding they need to do their jobs.
Economy: A strong economy starts with encouraging investment across Illinois and building a strong workforce. I support increasing education opportunities through our community colleges as well as building more programs to promote the skilled trades. I oppose tax hikes and want to keep Illinois safe and affordable for families and businesses.
Corruption: If elected state representative, I would push for giving the Legislative Inspector General more autonomy for investigating complaints against lawmakers by allowing the office to issue subpoenas independently of the Legislative Ethics Commission. We must remove the stain of corruption from Illinois politics.
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Tuesday, a group of Peoria Public Schools students learned the path to becoming a state representative.
It was part of the district’s Horizons Club, which is a career readiness program for District 150 middle school students.
On Tuesday, 92nd District State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth spoke with students at Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center. The school was recently renamed after her own mother, who was the first African American employee at the Peoria Journal Star and a community activist.
Gordon-Booth spoke about her career and bills that she’s worked on that directly impact schools and students.
She said she was once in the students’ seat, and she hoped to provide inspiration.
"I want them to realize and tap into their own potential to know that whatever they set their minds to, with hard work, keeping good people in your life, and making good choices that they can really accomplish some really extraordinary things as well," Gordon-Booth said.
She added that she also learns from students by speaking to them as well.
"Spending time with young people, you really kind of get re-energized and re-excited about why we do what we do. You see the hope and the dreams in their eyes, you see the things that they’re scared about, the things that they worry about," Gordon-Booth said.
Around 800 students are a part of Horizons Club, with speakers coming in weekly.
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Working for Illinois Caucus 