IllinoisIsBroke.com at Will County Fair

The non-profit, non-partisan group Illinois is Broke staffed a booth at the Will County Fair.

IllinoisIsBroke.com at the Will County Fair

According to their pamphlet, IllinoisIsBroke.com is "made up of concerned organizations and citizens from across the state--including business executives, civic organizations and social service agencies, small business owners and employees, parents and students.  This effort was initiated by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.  We are unified by a common concern for the future of Illinois-its economy, the public services it provides, its business climate and its quality of life.  The state is on the brink of insolvency--the consequences of which would impact every person in Illinois.  We have joined together to say: Enough is enough! The State's budget must be reformed-key programs must be restructured and we must live within our means.  The largest problem is an obsolete and costly retirement system for public employees.  The Illinois Legislature recently enacted needed reforms for future employee--those not yet hired--but it did not go far enough.  We must implement reforms to restore Illinois to stability."

According to the interns at the Illinois Is Broke table, the group is concerned that Illinois now has a worse credit rating than California.  The group is also concerned that new businesses will not want to locate in Illinois--and thus create new jobs--because of the budget situation.

Illinois Is Broke intern Molly Miller of Wilmette, Illinois said the group has reached out to citizens at events throughout the state, such as fairs and festivals in Kankakee County, Kane County, Naperville, and Lake County.  According to Miller, at the Lake County Fair, business owners talked about locating their business in Wisconsin instead of Illinois. 

According to Miller, Illinois Is Broke has attended Chamber of Commerce meetings and done interviews with radio stations in order to make sure Illinois elected officials and candidates know the budget is a major concern for the people of Illinois.

Political Groups, Elected Officials and Governmental Agencies at the Will County Fair

With the upcoming November elections, politicians and groups interested in government are reaching out to fair goers at the 107th Will County Fair in Peotone this weekend.  Friday is Green Party Day, Saturday is Democrat Day, and Sunday is Republican Day.  Many elected officials and candidates will be at the Fair in order to campaign and reach out to voters.

Here are some photos of displays in the Will County Fair Commercial Building:

Will County Democrats Booth at the Will County Fair

Will County Democrats Booth at the Will County Fair

Green Party Booth and Green Party 79th State House Candidate George Ochsenfeld at the Will County Fair

The non-partisan group Illinois is Broke at the Will County Fair

James W. Glasgow booth at the Will County Fair

Will County Recorder of Deeds Booth at the Will County Fair.  The booth's projection screen highlights the Will County Recorder's online document search page, where you can search property transactions in Will County.

Fair Tax Nation reaches out to citizens at the 107th Will County Fair in Peotone, Illinois.

Nick Been--Republican Nominee for the Illinois 79th Representative District--

Nick Been responds to the question: Why are you running for the Illinois State House of Representatives:

Women for Toi Hutchinson Go Door-to-Door, hold Fundraiser for State Senator Toi Hutchinson's Election Campaign

State Senator Toi Hutchinson represents the 40th State Senate District of Illinois:

Map from toihutchinson.com

Hutchinson was appointed to the State Senate to fill out the term of Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson. Hutchinson was previously Halvorson's Chief of Staff.

Women for Toi Hutchinson meet before heading door-to-door 

Women for Toi Hutchinson are holding a "Jazzin with Toi" fundraising event in order to support Hutchinson's election campaign on August 26th at the Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete, Illinois.

willcountynewspolitics also sat down and spoke with Phyllis Hayes, Chairperson of Women for Toi Hutchinson.  Hayes answered questions regarding why she supports Toi Hutchinson, and why she thinks Toi Hutchinson is the best person for the job of representing the citizens of the 40th District in Springfield.

Hayes also answered the question: "What makes Hutchinson able to represent the needs of such a diverse district, ranging from Bloom Township in Cook County to Green Garden Township in Will County to Pembroke Township in Kankakee County and more?"

Obviously, the District has many needs.  Pembroke Township, for example, is one of the poorest townships in the country.  According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, 44% of adults are unemployed and 98% of children qualify for free lunch.  Pembroke lacks basic infrastructure such as natural gas lines and homes lack running water.

Also, in the Chicago Tribune's report of Pembroke Township:

"Hopkins Park's 800 residents are mainly African-American, and many are descendants of the founders. The village, about 60 miles south of Chicago, was founded as a place where African-Americans could use their farming skills and build a life after slavery.

But today, the village has a 44 percent unemployment rate, and the average household income is about $14,000, Payton said.

In 2000, when jobs were plentiful and home values soared, 44 percent of Hopkins Park's residents were living below the poverty level, four times the state average, according to U.S. census data."


The 40th District includes part of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, in Florence Township.  The proposed "Peotone Airport", also known as the "South Suburban Airport" or "Third Chicago Airport" is slated to be built in the 40th District.  There is much opposition to this plan from residents residing near the proposed airport.


Interview with Phyllis Hayes, Chairperson of the Women for Toi Hutchinson Committee:

Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson to hold office hours in Joliet on 8/4/10

According to the Trib Local, Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson will hold office hours Wednesday, August 4 from 10 am to 11 am at her office in Two Rialto Square Building in Joliet, Illinois.

Congresswoman Halvorson is running against Republican Adam Kinzinger  in November.

Map of the 11th Congressional District from Congresswoman Halvorson's website.

The 11th Congressional District covers a large portion of Will County, along with parts of Bureau County, Grundy County, Kankakee County, La Salle County, Livingston County, McClean County and Woodford County.

2008 Illinois 11th Congressional District election results: Halvorson won, receiving 58.4% of the votes, while Republican Ozinga received 34.5% of the vote, and 7.1% of the vote went to "other".

Nick Been--Republican Nominee for the Illinois 79th Representative District--releases statement on expected Quinn tax hike

Nick Been, the Republican nominee for the 79th State House District, has released a statement responding to news Governor Pat Quinn's administration is planning a tax hike in January.

The statement on Been's website reads:

"Reaction to Quinn Budget Director’s Boast: “We’re going to pass a tax increase in January. We expect it to be substantial.” Manhattan – Nick Been, the Republican nominee for the 79th State House District seat, had the following reaction to Gov. Pat Quinn’s Budget Director David Vaught’s statement Wednesday that the Administration expects to pass a massive 67% increase in the state income tax rate in January. “An income tax increase on working families, while the State continues to increase spending is reckless,” said Been. “Illinois’ current group of leaders can’t cut spending or balance a budget; it is unfathomable that they would demand more money from taxpayers. While I pledge to never raise taxes, my opponent has already voted for an income tax increase. It is time for some new faces in Springfield.” Quinn Budget Director David Vaught said in an interview on Wednesday; “We’re going to pass a tax increase in January. We expect it is going to be substantial.” Vaught said lawmakers are likely to increase the personal income tax rate from 3 percent to 5 percent (a 67% increase) generating $6 billion of new revenue."


Been is running against incumbent Democrat Lisa Dugan and Green Party Candidate George Ochsenfeld.  


Check out the Will County Politics interview with Nick Been.


The 79th Illinois State Representative District covers parts of Will, Kankakee, and Iroquois County.



Map of the 79th District from nickbeen.com