Letter: Dillard's Long Tenure is the Best Reason Not to Re-elect Him

I live in the newly drawn 24th Senate District of Illinois in Elmhurst and must choose between Kirk Dillard and Chris Nybo in the upcoming primary.

Kirk Dillard has been an Illinois State Senator for 18 years and has been part of the political system in Springfield for more than 25 years.  During that time, Illinois has spiraled deeper and deeper into debt and amassed a $120 billion pension obligation.  Politicians like Dillard have been diligent in awarding college scholarships to their friends and supporters and have stuck taxpayers with the bill. Dillard has a million-dollar state pension while our state’s vendors strangle on millions of dollars of unpaid invoices.

Mr. Dillard, along with the likes of Mike Madigan and John Cullerton, lack the desire, the ability or both to do what needs to be done for the citizens of Illinois. They have shirked their responsibilities as legislators to hang on for another term. The fact that Dillard has been in office so long is the single best reason not to re-elect him. The damage to the State of Illinois has occurred on his watch.

In stark contrast, Chris Nybo has proven to be a passionate and effective first term legislator in the General Assembly. Nybo casts his votes with the best interests of Illinois taxpayers in mind. Chris demonstrated his commitment to the people of Illinois when he reached across the aisle and provided critical support for a worker’s comp bill that significantly improved Illinois’ dysfunctional system.  Chris Nybo has recently filed legislation for term limits for Illinois legislators, which is to me clear evidence that he is a different breed of public servant.  Nothing short of term limits will save us from the likes of Madigan, Cullerton, and yes, Dillard.

I will vote for Chris Nybo. If you want to help rid our state of self-serving, ineffective politicians who have carefully guarded the status quo for decades, I suggest you do the same.

—Mike Hartley